Cop  to 


WILMINGTON, 

NORTH     CAJELOTJINJ^. 


PAST,     PRESENT     -A.3STI3     FUTURE. 


HISTORY  OF  ITS  HARBOR, 

WITH 

DETAILED  REPORTS  OF  THE  WORK 
FOR  IMPROVING  AND  RESTORING  THE  SAME, 

NOW  BEING  CONDUCTED  BY  THE 

XT.    S.    Gho^errniiertt. 

RESOURCES  AND  ADVANTAGES 

AS  AN  ENTREPOT  FOR  WESTERN  CITIES. 
HARBOR    OF    REFUGE, 

AND 

COAI-XXTG  DEPOT  TO'£L  the  itavtt 


PUBLISHED    BY    ORDER    OF     THE     CHAMBER     OF     COMMERCE. 

1872. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C. 

J.    A.    ENGELHARD,    STEAM   POWER   PRESS   PRINTER, 
JOURNAL   BUILDINGS. 


1872. 


I 
I 


; 


?<v^r1@>+»^g^S4y^cfe^^^ 


STEPHEN  Bo  WEEKS 

CLASS  OF  1886;  PH.D.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 

LUBMmr 

OF  TIHLE 


TIE  WEEKS  COMJECTIION 


I  rv2. 


C,?^ 


WILMINGTON, 

NORTH     CAROLINA. 


PAST,     PRESENT      ^JXTTD      FUTURE, 


HISTORY  OF  ITS  HAEBOE, 

WITH 

DETAILED  REPORTS  OF  THE  WORK 

FOR  IMPROVING  AND  RESTORING  THE  SAME, 
NOW  BEING  CONDUCTED  BY  THE 

TJ.    S.    Government. 


RESOURCES  AND  ADVANTAGES 

AS  AN  ENTREPOT  FOR  WESTERN  CITIES. 
HARBOR    OF    REFUGE, 

AND 

COAX.X1TG  DEPOT  FOB,  THE  2TAVT 

AND 

MERCHANT    MARINE. 


PUBLISHED    BY    ORDER    OF    THE    CHAMBER    OP     COMMERCE. 

1872. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C.  : 

J,    A.    ENGELHAED,    STEAM   POWER   PEESS   PKINTEE, 
JOURNAL  BUILDINGS. 

1872. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hil 


http://archive.org/details/wilmingtonnorthcwilm 


PEEFATOEY. 


The  publication  of  the  following  documents  is,  of  course,  made  to  forward 
the  interests  of  our  city. 

From  the  Congress,  to  whom  we  look  for  the  means  for  restoring  our  harbor, 
damaged  by  work  of  the  public  authorities,  we  ask  a  careful  consideration  of  what 
we  consider  our  just  dues.  The  statements  made  herein,  can,  in  every  impor- 
tant particular,  be  verified  by  charts  and  documents  in  the  possession  of  the 
Government,  deposited  in  the  Public  Library  and  with  the  Coast  Survey  De- 
partment, and  are  generally  known  by  the  officers  of  the  Engineer  Department, 
whose  attention  has  been  particularly  called  to  the  subject. 

"We  direct  the  especial  attention  of  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  West  and  North- 
west, to  the  great  advantages  of  a  connection  with  us,  and  the  manifest  interest 
to  themselves  in  having  our  Harbor  restored,  so  as  to  put  them  in  easier  and 
cheaper  reach  of  a  seaport,  through  which  to  distribute  their  products  and  re- 
ceive in  return  thei?  importations  from  any  part  of  the  world. 

With  a  first  class  harbor,  which  we  can  safely  look  for,  if  the  work  now  pro- 
gressing is  completed,  the  natural  advantages  of  our  port  will  be  seen  at  a 
glance,  and  we  shall  soon  become  a  great  market  for  heavy  goods  of  every  de- 
-scription,  and  offer,  to  all  within  reach  of  us,  inducements  not  now  to  be  found. 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  February,  1872, 


ON  THE  TRADE 

OF  WILMINGTON,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  AND  OF  THE  PRO- 
DUCE EXPORTABLE  FROM  THE  RIVER  CAPE  FEAR, 
THE  SEASON  AND  PROSPECT  TAKEN  INTO  VIEW,  MAY 
1ST,  1815. 

BY  JOSHUA  POTTS. 

Wilmington,  though  but  a  small  port,  affords  in  season  and 
in  proportionate  quantities,  nearly  all  the  various  kinds  of 
produce  that  are  to  be  found  in  the  growth  of  the  United 
States,  collectively — such  is  the  effect  of  an  intermediate  cli- 
mate, an  extensive  territory  of  different  soil,  and  diversity  in 
occupation  of  numerous  inhabitants. 

Portable  articles  of  Produce  are  brought  from  the  interior 
country,  by  land  carriage,  to  inland  towns  on  the  head  of 
boating  navigation  ;  thence  they  are  carried  down  to  Wil- 
mington in  large  flat  boats,  calculated  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  country,  transportation  of  Lumber 
Naval  Stores,  Timber  and  Spars,  is  facilitated  by  rafts,  con- 
ducted by  a  few  hands  down  numerous  rivers  and  creeks. 

In  times  of  uninterrupted  commerce,  many  ships  and  ves- 
sels of  considerable  burthen  were  annually  loaded  here  and 
bound  for  European  ports  with  cargoes  of  Naval  Stores,  To- 
bacco, Flaxseed,  Cotton,  Rice,  and  large  Timber  of  Pitch 
Pine ;  their  cargoes  were  dunnaged  and  stowed  with  Staves. 

Our  produce  is  particularly  adapted  for  the  markets  of 
West  India  Islands,  and  when  we  have  a  free  trade,  many 
vessels,  of  Wilmington  and  the  Northern  States,  during  win- 
ter and  spring,  load  here,  and  depart  for  the  W7est  Indies  in 
as  many  directions  as  there  are  Islands,  their  cargoes  assort- 
ed with  Lumber,  Flour,  Bice,  Pork,  Bacon,  Lard,  Butter,  To- 
bacco, Tar,  Live  Stock,  &g. 

A  proportion  of  our  produce  is  transported  coastwise  to 
various  ports,  but  that  of  New  York  the  principal— and  vice 


versa,  tlic  merchants  and  dealers  of  Wilmington  and  Fayette- 
ville  are  generally  furnished  with  a  variety  of  merchandize 
from  sundry  ports  on  the  Northern  coast — especially  from 
New  York.  Regular  packets  ply  between  "Wilmington  and 
New  York. 

Excellent  crops  of  various  kinds  of  produce  are  annually 
produced  throughout  this  country.  Our  market  opens  in 
November,  is  brisk  in  December,  increases  in  January,  Feb- 
ruary and  March — slackens  in  April — declines  in  May,  and 
ends  in  June.  The  Summer  and  Fall  months,  in  regard  to 
trade,  are  dull,  and  the  Fall  sickly. 

Those  kinds  of  our  produce,  of  the  first  importance,  are  no- 
ted for  the  present  year  as  follows  : 

Tobacco  is  raised  only  in  the  upper  country  ;  is  brought 
and  inspected  at  Fayetteville,  at  the  head  of  boating  naviga- 
tion, ninety  miles  above  Wilmington.  It  may  be  had  at  Fay- 
etteville, almost  at  any  time  of  the  year  ;  but  is  more  plenty 
between  December  and  March.  Of  late  years  the  quantity 
has  been  reduced,  and  the  culture  of  Cotton  substituted,  as 
being  less  precarious,  less  toilsome,  and  of  more  profit  than 
Tobacco.  Within  the  last  fifteen  years,  Tobacco  has  been 
lessened  in  culture  more  than  one-half  of  former  crops.  Its 
quality  has  been  said  to  have  been  inferior  to  that  of  Virgin- 
ia, but  of  late  it  has  been  produced  of  amended  goodness, 
and  some  of  it  prime.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  uniformly  pur- 
chased from  the  planters  by  merchants  at  Fayetteville,  and 
by  them  either  exported  to  Europe  or  sold  again  in  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

Cotton,  Upland,  is  but  of  recent  cultivation  in  this  State, 
and  is  increasing  in  quantity  ;  the  quality  is  said  to  be  equal 
to  that  of  South  Carolina  or  Georgia.  The  planters,  at  first, 
put  up  their  Cotton  in  round  bags,  but  of  late  much  of  it  is 
packed  in  square  bales.     There  is  no  inspection  of  Cotton. 

Rice — A  fine  crop  is  raised  chiefly  in  the  vicinity  of  Wil- 
mington, near  tide-water,  of  quality  equal  to  any  in  the  South- 
ern States  ;  and  a  charge  for  the  rough  casks  which  contain 
it,  is  always  made  by  the  planters. 

Floue — The  usual  crop  of  considerable   quantity  :  of  late 


years  subject  to  a  good  inspection,  and  marked  under  seve- 
ral qualities  ;'^the  superfine  is*  said  to  be  equal  to  that  of  the 
Middle  States. 

Corn  is  seldom  either  plenty  or  cheap  in  Wilmington.  The 
country  around  does  not  produce  it  in  sufficient  quantity  for 
exportation. 

Tae  is  not  made  in  as  large  quantity  as  formerly,  nor  is  it 
produced  and  brought  to  market  with  the  same  ease  ; — it  is 
an  article  subject  to  waste,  and  the  price  generally  low. — 
Countrymen,  in  many  instances-,  have  paid  attention  to  Cot- 
ton and  Timber  ;  and  numerous  inhabitants  of  that  descrip- 
tion have  removed  to  the  Western  States.  Since  the  return 
of  peace,  however,  the  demand  for  Tar  and  Turpentine  has 
raised  the  value  of  those  articles  to  an  encouraging  price.  It 
is  rafted  to  Wilmington,  and  after  having  been  coopered  and 
inspected,  is  transported  coastwise,  and  a  proportion  shipped 
for  European  ports. 

Tukpentine  is  seen  at  market  from  June  to  December.  In 
consequence  of  the  late  war,  the  quantity  has  been  reduced, 
and  prices  depressed ;  the  present  demand,  however,  has  en- 
hanced the  value.     There  is  a  scarcity  at  present. 

Flaxseed,-  as  well  as  Tobacco  and  Flour,  is  raised  in  the 
interior  of  this "  country.  It  is  first  contained  in  bags,  and 
brought  in  waggons  to  Fayetteville,  and  there  measured  and 
sold  by  the  bushel,  usually  from  90  to  120  cents,  according 
to  prospect.  The  purchasers  at  Fayetteville  have  it  there 
perfectly  cleaned  in  machines  for  that  purpose,  and  put  up 
in  casks  of  oak,  well  made,  each  containing  seven  bushels.— 
When  commerce  isfree,  the  price  of  a  cask  of  Flaxseed  at 
Wilmington  is  generally  between  ten  and  eleven  dollars.-^- 
There  is  no  inspection  on  Flaxseed. 

Lumber,  many  kinds  and  of  superior  quality,  is  brought 
plentifully  to  market  during  the  winter  and  spring.  Plenty 
of  sawed  Boards,  Planks  and -Scantling,  of  fine  grained  Pitch 
and  Yellow  Pine.  Pine  Timber  and  Spars  of  any  size  may 
be  had.  Shingles  off  Cypress,  22  inches  in  length,  are  plen- 
ty, generally  thin  and  light,  but  proportionally  cheap.  Shin- 
gles of  Juniper,  well  drawn  and  rounded,  may  be  had  from  a 
distance,  on  timely  notice. 


8 

Staves  are  not  to  be  had  here  in  quantity  sufficient  to  fur- 
nish cargoes  of  vessels ;  they  are,  however,  to  be  had  during 
winter  and  spring,  and  wherewith  cargoes  of  other  produce 
are  dunnaged  and  stowed.  Staves  are,  however,  at  times  so 
plenty  as  to  compose  the  principal  part  of  a  vessel's  cargo., 
White  Oak  Hhd.  and  Barrel  Staves  are  never  plenty ;  the 
growth  of  the  tree  is  confined  to  narrow  limits  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Kiver  Cape  Fear.  Red  Oak  Hhd.  Staves  are  to 
be  had  in  larger  numbers  than  those  of  the  White  Oak,  and 
are  always  more  than  proportionably  cheap. 

Produce  of  Minor  Importance. 

Bacon — Hams,  Shoulders,  and  Middlings,  of  excellent 
quality,  are  to  be  had  in  market,  from  January  until  May. 

Butter  comes  chiefly  from  the  mountains  and  back  coun- 
try, roughly  put  up  in  tubs  and  kegs — the  season  from  No- 
vember 'till  March.     It  is  subject  to  inspection. 

Beeswax  is  seen  generally  in  small  quantities,  and  is  care- 
fully bought  up  by  a  few  monopolizers  of  that  article.  It  is 
often  sent  from  Wilmington  to  New  York  and  to  Charleston. 

Brandy,  of  Apples  and  Peaches — also, 

Whiskies,  distilled  from  grain,  have  lately  been  greatly  in- 
creased throughout  this  country.  The  consumption  of  them 
already  far  exceeds  the  quantity  of  foreign  distilled  spirits ; 
and  from  the  economical  disposition  of  our  planters,  the  pro- 
bability is,  that,  in  a  very  few  years,  the  current  use  of  do- 
mestic spirits  will  entirely  supercede  those  of  foreign  distil- 
lation. 

Beep  is  seldom  barreled  up  in  this  country.  The  quality 
is  sound,  but  lean  and  inferior. 

Corn  Meal  has  never  been  exported  hence.  It  is  brought 
to  Wilmington  raw,  and  only  in  small  quantities,  for  the  use 
of  the  inhabitants. 

Pork  is  put  up  only  in  small  parcels,  the  quantity  about 
sufficient  to  furnish  vessels  with  sea  stores,  and  to  assort  car- 
goes bound  for  the  West  Indies.  The  quality  sound  and 
good,  but  not  very  fat. 

Lard  comes  to  market  in  kegs  and  tubs  of  various  sizes 
not  well  put  up — the  quantity  not  an  object. 


9 

Tallow  Is  produced  in  small  quantities,  of  which  candles 
are  made  and  used  in  Wilmington,  aud  on  board  vessels. — 
Sometimes  a  few  casks  of  Tallow  are  shipped  coastwise. 

Deer  Skins  and  Furs  are  poor  articles,  both  in  quantity 
and  quality. 

Peas — Black-eye,  &c,  are  of  precarious  growth  and  perish- 
able quality.  The  quantity  attempted  to  be  raised  is  but 
small ; — they  serve  to  provision  crews  of  vessels,  feed  negroes, 
milch  cows,  &c. 

Live  Stock — Cattle  and  Hogs  are  uniformly  raised  by  na- 
ture in  this  part  of  the  country.  Cattle  are  small  and  weak- 
ly, and  cannot  bear  their  passage  to  the  West  India  Islards. 
Hogs  are  raised  by  mast  or  acorns,  and  in  the  months  of  No- 
vember and  December  are  in  sufficient  plight  to  be  shipped 
to  the  West  Indies.  Poultry  are  generally  plenty  for  the  use 
of  the  inhabitants  and  for  sea  stores. 

Pitch — Seldom  any  has  been  brought  to  market  of  late 
years.  Tar  burners  seem  to  have  declined  reducing  Tar  to 
Pitch. 

Kosin,  Spirit  of  Turpentine,  Spirit  of  Tar,  are  made  only 
by  persons  in  possession  of  Stills  proper  for  those  purposes ; 
and  they  continue  the  quantity  on  hand  small,  merely  to  ans- 
wer the  small  demand  that  may  occasionally  happen — but 
should  at  any  time  large  parcels  of  these  articles  be  required, 
the  purchaser  could  be  speedily  furnished. 

Remarks. 

It  is  unadvisable,  and  often  disadvantageous,  for  a  mer- 
chant in  a  distant  State  or  foreign  port,  to  dispatch  a  ship  to 
Wilmington  under  orders  for  a  cargo  of  our  produce,  without 
first  having  written  to  his  correspondent  of  particulars  re- 
quired. Four  to  six  weeks  previous  notico  to  the  agent  is 
always  requisite,  that  he  may  have  time  and  opportunity  to 
procure  the  produce  described,  at  the  best  advantage,  and 
have  it  in  readiness  by  the  time  of  arrival  of  such  ship. — 
Great  detention  and  disappointment  often  happen  in  conse- 
quence of  voyages  being  abruptly  commenced  ;  as  but  seldom 
peculiar  kinds  of  produce  can  be  had  on  sudden  notice. 


10 

Inspection  of  Produce  is  established  by  law  throughout 
North  Carolina.  A  clause  enacts  that  the  shippers  thereof 
shall  pay  the  fees  of  inspection  on  the  several  articles  as  fol^ 
lows,  viz  :  Bice,  Flour,  Pork,  Lard,  Beef,  Butter,  Tar,  Tur- 
pentine, Pitch  and  Rosin.     rl  he  rates  are  low. 

On  Lumber,  the  buyer  and  seller  equally  sustain  the  char- 
ges of  inspection  and  delivery.  Custom  supercedes  a  law  for 
inspection  of  lumber.    The  fee  is  small. 

At  the  Port  of  Wilmington,  every  article  of  produce  and 
merchandize  are,  by  custom,  sold,  bought,,  delivered  and  re- 
ceived by  short  or  exact  weight,  measure,  or  number,  and: 
nothing  by  the  long  hundred  or  thousand.    For  instance, 

A  ton  of  Iron,  Cordage,  &c,  is  only 2,000  lb. 

A  hundred  weight  of  Sugar,  &c 100  lb; 

A  thousand  Staves  or  Shingles pieces      1,000 

A  ton  of  square  Timber solid  feet       40 

A  barrel  of  Tar,  by  law . . gallons  32 

A  bbl.  of  Turpentine  or  Pitch,  by  averaged  weights- 
gross  320  lb. 

A  barrel  of  Pork,  nett .... 200  lb. 

A  barrel  of  Flour,  nett . 196  lb. 

Cash,  or  suitable  bills,  (commonly  drafts  on  New  York,) 
are  the  only  funds  that  will  command  either  Tobacco^  Rice,, 
Cotton  or  Flaxseed. 

Salt. — The  season  for  Salt  commences  in  September,  and 
continues  during  October,  November  and  December.  After- 
wards the  demand  slackens,  and  by  March  there  is  no  call 
for  it. 

Considerable  quantities  of  Liverpool  SaU  were  formerly  im- 
ported, but  during  our  Restrictive  Acts,  and  nearly  three 
years  continuance  of  the  late  war  with  England,  scarcely  any 
has  been  brought  in.  Coarse  Salt  of  late  has  arrived  tolera- 
ble plenty,  and  although  subject  to  a  duty  of  about  thirty 
cents  per  bushel,  the  last  sales  per  cargo  were  per  bushel  at 
sixty-five  cents. 

Liverpool  Ground  Salt  is  always  preferred  at  Fayetteville 
to  any  coarse  Salt,  at  the  same  price,  owing  to  weight  of 
waggonage  up  the  country,  Liverpool  being  the  lightest,  per 
bushel. 


11 

For  a  few  years  since,  while  commerce  was  under  restric- 
tion, and  during  the  late  war,  sundry  Salt  Works  were  erect- 
ed on  the  Sound,  near  Wilmington,  which,  towards  the  last 
of  the  war,  highly  rewarded  their  several  proprietors.  But, 
since  the  return  of  peace,  the  price  of  home-made  Salt  has, 
consequently,  fallen  to  that  of  similar  quality  imported.  Not- 
withstanding, ihe  domestic  works  will  be  continued  in  opera- 
tion. They  will  be  productive  of  profit,  so  far  at  least  as  the 
duty  on  foreign  salt  may  be  extended. 

The  manner  of  producing  what  is  here  called  Sound  Salt, 
is  by  means  of  vats  constructed  with  boards,  into  one  of 
which  the  salt  water  is  brought  by  pumps  worked  with  wind. 
Three  vats  constitute  one  sett,  and  the  sea  water  under  evap- 
oration, after  having  deposited  the  druggy  and  slimy  parts, 
is  timely  drawn  from  one  reservoir  into  another,  by  which 
process  the  chrystalized  Salt  becomes  of  the  purest  quality. 
The  grain  is  of  the  size  called  hominy  salt,  or  larger,  aDdthe 
quantity  annually  produced,  within  eight  to  twenty  miles  of 
Wilmington,  is  already  more  than  thirty  thousand  bushels. 

Main  Bar  of  Cape  Fear,  high  water  at  7  o'clock  at  full  and 
change  of  the  Moon,  depth  18  feet. 

New  Inlet  Bar,  high  water  at  7  o'clock  at  full  and  change 
of  the  Moon,  depth  11^  feet. 

Tides  en  each  Bar,  perpendicular,  5  to  6  feet. 

Flatts,  ten  miles  below  Wilmington,  to  town,  11£  feet. 

Course  in,  over  the  Main  Bar  ; — when  in  five  fathems  wa- 
ter, the  Light  House  used  to  bear  North  half  East,  but,  un- 
fortunately, a  couple  of  years  since  the  sea  encroached  on 
the  shore*  and  destroyed  the  Light  House  ;  and  within  a  few 
years  an  angle  to  the  westward  has  been  formed  in  that  part 
of  the  channel  which,  was  formerly  straight,  by  which  circum- 
stance the  navigation  over  the  Main  Bar  has  become  more 
difficult.  Pilots  generally  attend  in  time  to  conduct  vessels 
in  safety. 

*Why '?  Because  the  Haver  current  had  been  depreciated  to  that  extent  in 
volume  and  force,  by  the  opening  at  New  Inlet,  as  to  be  overcome  by  the  cur- 
rent and  force  of  waves  of  the  ocean  ;  thus  permitting  the  ocean  waves  and  cur- 
rent to  gradually  wear  away  the  shore.  H.  KUTT. 


12 

Lighterage,  between  the  Flatts  and  Wilmington,  conies  on 
all  vessels  above  11^  feet. 

Also,  between  Main  Bar  and  Flatts,  at  high  water,  are 
Shoals  of  14|  feet. 

Wilmington  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Cape  Fear  or 
Clarendon  river,  and  lies  North  30  miles  above  the  Main  Bar, 
and  20  miles  above  New  Inlet. 


REMARKS 

ON  THE  TRADE  OF  WILMINGTON,  NORTH  CAROLINA, 
AND  ON  THE  PRODUCE  EXPORTABLE  FROM  THE 
RIVER  CAPE  FEAR,  TAKEN  INTO  VIEW  1ST  AUGUST, 

1843. 

BY  ROBERT  W.    BROWN. 

WrILMINGTON  affords,  in  season,  and  in  proportionate 
quantities,  nearly  all  the  various  kinds  of  produce  that  are  to 
be  found  in  the  growth  of  the  United  States  collectively. 
Such  is  the  effect  of  an  intermediate  climate,  an  extensive 
territory  of  different  soil,  and  diversity  in  occupation  of  nu- 
merous inhabitants. 

Portable  articles  of  produce  are  brought  from  the  interior 
country,  by  land  carriage,  to  Fayeiteville,  at  the  head  of 
boating  navigation ;  thence  they  are  carried  down  to  Wil- 
mington by  well  constructed  Steamboats  and  their  numerous 
Towboats,  comprising  a  flotilla  on  an  extensive  scale,  quali- 
fied to  carry  large  quantities  of  merchandize  up  and  produce 
down  ;  and  when  the  river  is  not  too  low  for  Steamboats  to 
run  all  the  way,  greater  despatch  is  not  given  in  any  part  of 
our  country.  At  those  periods  of  low  water,  which  occasion- 
ally happen,  the  transportation  is  facilitated  by  the  smaller 
flat  Towboats,  aided  speedily  by  the  Steamboats,  so  far  as 


13 

the  latter  can  proceed.  We  have  also  the  additional  route 
of  Rail  Road,  161  miles  as  noted  below,  in  another  direction. 

In  the  course  of  many  years  practice  of  the  author  in  his 
agency  for  numerous  merchants  of  the  interior,  and  since  the 
establishment  of  Steamboats,  he  has  had  goods  delivered  at 
Fayetteville,  within  a  week  and  ten  days,  from  New  York, 
and  the  merchants  and  farmers  of  the  back  country,  hitherto 
trading  extensively  with  South  Carolina,  must  find  their  way 
to  the  convenient  seaport  of  their  own  State,  and  Wilmington 
can  produce  a  market  for  export  and  import,  with  all  neces- 
sary facilities.  The  larger  vessels  for  foreign  trade  and  the 
smaller  for  coasting,  have  the  advantage  of  two  Bars — the 
New  Inlet  and  the  Main  Bar  to  pass  in  and  out. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  country,  transportation  of  sawed 
Lumber,  Staves,  Naval  Stores,  Timber  and  Spars,  is  facilitated 
by  rafts,  conducted  by  a  few  hands,  down  numerous  rivers 
and  creeks. 

Many  ships  and  vessels,  of  considerable  burthen,  are  an- 
nually loaded  here,  and  bound  for  European  and  "West  India 
ports,  with  cargoes  of  Naval  Stores,  Tobacco,  Flaxseed,  Cot- 
ton, Bice,  Pitch  Pine  Planks,  Timber  and  Staves. 

Our  produce  is  particularly  adapted  for  the  markets  of  the 
West  India  Islands:  and  the  shipping  of  Wilmington  and  the 
Northern  States,  as  well  as  foreign  vessels,  during  winter 
and  spring,  load  here  and  depart  for  the  West  Indies,  in  as 
many  directions  as  there  are  Islands  ;  their  cargoes  assort- 
ed, with  sawed  Lumber,  Staves,  Shingles,  Flour,  Bice,  Pork, 
Bacon,  Lard,  Butter,  Naval  Stores,  &c. 

A  large  proportion  of  our  produce  is  transported  coast- 
wise, to  various  ports,  but  those  of  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore  and  Boston,  principally  ;  and  vice  versa,  the  mer- 
chants and  dealers  of  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  em- 
bracing the  extensive  interior  of  the  state,  are  furnished 
with  a  variety  of  merchandise  from  sundry  ports  on  the 
northern  coast,  especially  from  New-York.  Regular  packets 
ply  between  Wilmington,  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 
Steamboats  of  good  capacity  ply  on  the  river  below  Wil- 
mington, for  passengers,  freighting  and  towing.  The  healthy 
summer  retreat  at  Smithville,  is  much  resorted  to. 


u 

Excellent  crops  of  various  kinds  of  produce  are  annually 
produced  throughout  this  .country.  Our  market  opens  in 
November,  is  brisk  in  December,  increases  in  January,  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  slackens  in  April,  declines  in  May,  and 
•ends  in  June.  The  summer  and  fall  months,  in  regard  to 
trade,  are  dull ;  rivers  generally  low  ;  crop  season  with  the 
■country  people  ;  a  relaxation  in  town  ;  and  consequently 
business  generally  is  less  active,  except  the  ordinary  pre- 
parations for  renewal  of  the  lall  trade,  and  the  importation 
of  large  quantities  of  goods,  fox  their  passage  to  the  interior, 
which  is  a  steady  employment  from  July  to  November.  This 
business  demands  the  constant  vigilance,  care  and  presence 
of  the  consignees  and  parties  entrusted  with  it,  during  the 
most  unfavorable  period  of  the  season. 

A  new  route  is  now  established  by  the  Wilmington  and 
Raleigh  Bail  Boad,  through  the  North  Eastern  counties  of 
the  State,  leading  to  Weldon,  on  the  Roanoke,  and  thence 
to  Norfolk  or  Petersburg.  Splendid  Steamboats,  built  for 
the  purpose,  and  second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  ply 
between  Wilmington  and  Charleston,  conveying  with  great 
comfort,  and  comparatively  no  risk,  the  mail  and  passengers, 
which  route,  as  already  ascertained,  is  admitted  to  be  one 
of  the  best  in  the  whole  country,  avoiding  the  great  hazard 
of  Capes  Hatteras,  Lookout,  and  Frying  Pan,  in  a  short  sea- 
scope  between  Cape  Fear  and  Charleston  Bars,  so  far  as 
passengers  are  concerned. 

The  Teade  too  has  commenced  upon  this  route  with  the 
rich  and  fertile  counties  of  the  East,  whose  inhabitants  are 
ready  to  embrace  the  great  facility  in  prospect  of  finding  at 
Wilmington  a  market  for  their  valuable  productions.  It  is 
only  necessary  to  have  the  supply  to  insure  demand. 

Those  kinds  of  our  produce,  of  the  first  importance,  are 
noted  as  follows  : 

Cotton. — Upland  in  moderate  supply  the  last  year  or  two. 
The  quality  is  similar  to  that  of  South  Carolina  or  Georgia, 
now  mostly  packed  in  square  bales,  and  delivered  at  market 
in  excellent  order.  Freight  to  England,  chiefly  Liverpool, 
varies  as  to  circumstances  1-2  a  5-8d.,  and  it  often  occurs, 


16 

that  cotton  purchased  by  order,  is  shipped  coastwise  to  New 
York,  where  it  takes  the  chance  of  a  good  market,  or  for- 
warded by  packet  to  England  or  France.  Shipments  to 
France  direct  are  made  from  Wilmington.  Both  Cotton 
and  Rice  can  be  obtained  and  shipped. 

Rice. — A  fine  crop  is  raised,  chiefly  in  the  vicinity  of  Wil-^ 
mington,  near  tide  water,  of  quality  equal  to  any  in  the* 
Southern  States.  And  indeed,  we  have  often  heard  a  pref- 
erence expressed  for  the  Rice  on  this  river.  Charleston 
dealers  send  for  it,  to  clean  there  (and  export)  in  the  rough, 
<fec.  The  quantity  made  is  about  200,000  bushels.  There 
is  now  an  extensive  Steam  Mill,  besides  sundry  "Water  Mills, 
which  enable  us  to  furnish  in  due  season,  the  whole  crop  of 
this  article,  and  greatly  add  to  our  supply  of  clean  Rice  for 
export  from  the  port  of  Wilmington.  The  quantity  may 
now  be  fairly  estimated  at  about  ten  thousand  tierces.  In 
consequence,  dealers  may  expect  less  disappointment  in  sup- 
plies, and  at  fair  prices.  A  Steam  Mill,  recently  erected  at 
New  York,  has  made  demand  upon  our  rough  rice,  and  takes 
it  coastwise.  By  custom,  the  purchaser  pays  50  cents  for 
each  cask,  and  8^  cents  for  inspection.  The  casks  are  of 
various  sizes,  from  300  to  600  pounds  nett.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  November,  to  the  first  of  December,  we  get  the  first 
new  Riee  to  market. 

Tobacco  is  raised  in  the  upper  country  ;  is  brought  to  and 
inspected  at  Fayetteville,  at  the  head  of  boating  navigation, 
90  miles  by  land,  and  140  by  water,  above  Wilmington.  It 
may  be  had  at  that  place  almost  any  time  of  the  year,  but 
is  more  plenty  between  December  and  March.  In  the  first 
place,  it  is  uniformly  purchased  from  the  planters  by  mer- 
chants at  Fayetteville,  on  their  own  account,  or  by  order,  and 
sent  down  to  Wilmington,  for  sale,  or  to  be  shipped  Many 
ships  formerly  loaded  with  Tobacco  at  this  port  for  Foreign 
markets. 

Flour  is  expected  to  be  fine  this  year — the  crops  of 
Wheat  throughout  are  represented  as  excellent.  It  is  in- 
spected and  branded  at  Fayetteville,  under  several  qualities^ 
a«nd  at  present,  no  charge  of  inspection  to  the  shipper  her©,. 


16 

The  cross  middlings  fine  and  superfine,  generally  sent  down 
together.  It  is  not  always  practicable  to  procure  superfine 
alone.     Quality  good.     Inspection  improved. 

Whea.t  is  brought  into  Fayetteville  by  wagons,  where  it  is 
bought,  cleaned  at  mills,  and  put  up  in  casks  of  seven  bush- 
els or  bags,  and  sent  down  to  Wilmington  for  sale  or  to 
ship. 

Cokn. — The  country  immediately  around  does  not  produce 
it  in  sufficient  quantities  for  exportation  to  any  extent.  We 
have  it  frequently  from  the  North  counties  in  this  State, 
brought  round  in  vessels,  and  also  from  Maryland.  The  de- 
mand this  year  has  been  uniformly  good,  and  sold  at  full 
prices.  The  adjoining  counties  have  had  satisfactory  ac- 
counts— the  consumption  seems  to  have  increased. 

Tab  has  been  made  in  considerable  quantities ;  it  is  an 
article  subject  to  waste.  The  very  low  price  at  which  this 
article  ruled  for  several  years,  had  the  effect  at  last  to  drive 
the  makers  of  it  to  other  business — cutting  timber,  &c, 
which,  with  some  removals  of  that  class  of  persons  from  this 
region,  rendered  Tar  more  scarce.  It  is  rafted  to  Wilming- 
ton, down  rivers  and  creeks,  and  bought  of  the  country  peo- 
ple by  the  raft,  from  20  to  300  barrels,  afloat ;  after  which, 
it  is  landed  on  a  wharf,  inspected  and  coopered— the  pur- 
chaser always  paying  inspection  of  two  cents  per  barrel, 
•cooperage,  wharfage,  and  the  landing  charge  ;  the  whole  ex- 
pense about  12  cents  per  barrel,  including  one  week's  wharf- 
age. Our  cooperage  is  good,  and  attentien  is  paid  to  pump- 
ing, in  order  to  clear  it  of  water  as  much  as  possible.  Janu- 
ury  to  May  is  the  season  when  Tar  is  most  plenty. 

Tuepentine  is  seen  in  market  from  June  to  April.  We 
generally  get  the  greatest  quantities  from  the  20th  of  No- 
vember, until  about  the  last  of  February.  Before  and  after 
these  periods,  it  comes  in  smaller  parcels.  After  heavy  rains, 
and  during  high  freshets,  we  have  considerable  quantities 
down  at  once  ;  and  often,  at  such  time,  the  supply  offered 
for  sale  reduces  the  price.  Turpentine  is  rafted  and  sold  as 
Tar,  subject  to  inspection  and  like  expenses.  The  buyer, 
from  custom,  pays  for  the  whole  raft,  as  landed,  including 


17 

hard  or  scrapings  as  well  as  soft ;  the  hard,  however,  at  less 
price — one-half  the  rate  paid  for  soft.  By  custom  and  law 
of  the  State,  it  is  weighed,  taking  320  lbs.  gross  as  the  bar- 
rel. Our  barrels  are  generally  large,  and  when  packed  over- 
go that  weight.  Usual  crop  has  been  100,000  to  140,000 
barrels.  I  will  further  add,  in  regard  to  this  article,  that  on 
inspection,  after  the  inspector  has  tried  each  cask  at  the 
bung  with  a  rod,  he  weighs  a  small  portion  of  the  lot,  by 
which  the  whole  purchase  is  averaged.  Inspection,  3  cents 
per  barrel.  The  crop  of  1843-44  is  expected  to  reach  200,- 
000  barrels.  The  railroad  route  delivers  a  large  proportion 
of  Turpentine  to  market,  which  is  in  addition  to  the  rkftii  g 
process.  The  several  distilleries  now  established,  for  work- 
ing up  turpentine  in  the  home  market,  consume  weekly  1500 
barrels  of  that  raw  material,  and  has  become  a  great  item  of 
business  here.  They  produce  Eosin,  Spirits  Turpentine,  and 
make  Yarnish  and  Pitch. 

Flaxseed  as  well  as  Tobacco  and  Flour,  is  raised  in  the 
interior  of  this  country.  It  is  first  brought  in  wagons  to 
Fayettevdle,  and  there  measured  and  sold  by  the  bushel. — 
The  purchasers  have  it  cleansed  in  machines,  and  put  up  in 
oak  casks,  each  containing  seven  bushels.  Flaxseed  is  an 
article,  in  regard  to  the  quantity  of  which  an  accurate  esti- 
mate cannot  be  formed.  The  seed  is  sown  with  no  other 
view  than  to  produce  Flax  for  domestic  purposes  ;  gathered 
in  quantities  and  brought  to  market,  from  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember to  the  fifteenth  of  January — principally  in  November 
and  December.  In  common,  the  quantity  received  depends 
materially  upon  the  price.  Crops  of  former  years,  about 
3000  tierces.  Of  the  last  seasons,  the  quantity  exported  and 
shipped  coastwise,  only  about  9  to  1500  casks.  There  is  no 
other  market  in  the  Southern  States  where  it  is  purchased 
to  any  extent.     No  inspection. 

Lumbec — Many  kinds,  and  of  a  superior  quality,  are  rafted 
plentifully  to  market  during  winter  and  spring,  from  water 
mills  ;  say,  sawed  boards,  plank  and  scantling,  of  fine  grain- 
ed pitch  and  yellow  pine,  promiscuously  sawed  however,  un- 
less previously  contracted  for,  and  thus  sold  by  the  raft,  at  a 


18 

rate  to  be  agreed  on,  turn  out  as  it  may  ;  Refuse  at  half-pricey 
and  is  commonly  so  shipped  altogether.  Expenses  of  re- 
rafting  or  landing,  and  inspection,  paid  by  the  purchaser. — 
Pine  timber  and  spars,  of  any  size,  may  be  had  upon  previous 
notice  to  contract  with  the  country  people  ;  and  at  a  time 
when  the  waters  are  sufficiently  up  for  rafting.  Five  well 
constructed  Steam  Saw  Mills  are  erected  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  town,  and  now  in  operation,  where  lumber  of  any  lengths 
or  sizes  may  be  furnished,  and  delivered  to  vessels  bright 
from  the  saws.  The  quality  is  excellent — sawed  from  square 
logs  of  good  timber.  The  increased  demand  for  our  lumber 
coastwise,  and  steady  calls  for  it  throughout  the  West  Indies, 
has  vastly  increased  the  trade  and  employment  of  vessels. — 
Half  the  inspection  is  charged  at  those  Mills,  and  their  pri- 
ces are  uniform.  The  lumber  trade  is  also  benefited  by  the 
establishment  at  Orton,  15  miles  below  Wilmington,  of  two  ex- 
cellent Saw  Mills,  carried  by  a  never-failing  water  power 
from  a  pond  of  seven  miles  in- extent,  supplying  lumber  from 
square  timber  equal  to  that  of  the  Steam  Mills,  and  at  same 
rates.  In  a  contract  with  those  mills,  vessels  meet  as  good 
despatch  as  at  any  other. 

An  extensive  Planing  Mill  is  also  erected-  at  this  place, 
where  flooring  and  all  other  descriptions  of  Boards  are  sup- 
plied for  domestic  use  as  well  as  foreign  demand. 

Shingles,  of  Cypress,  22  inches  in'  length,  are  plenty,  and' 
often  good ;  and  may  be  contracted  for  to  be  brought  of  bet- 
ter quality  and  larger  size.  Demand  the  past  season  was 
good.  Demand  this  summer  has  been  less,  and  a  correspond- 
ing falling  off  in  supply— ruled  from  $1  50  to  $4  per  thous- 
and. Shingles,  of  Juniper,  18  inches,  may  be  had  on  timely 
notice,  during  the  winter. 

Staves  are  not  to  be  had  here  in  quantities  sufficient  to  fur- 
nish cargoes  of  vessels,  but  can  be  had  during  the  winter  and 
spring,  wherewith  cargoes  of  other  produce  are  dunnaged 
and  stowed.  At  some  periods,  however,  so  plenty  as  to  com- 
prise the  principal  part  of  a  vessel's  cargo.  W.  O.  Hhd.  are 
not  always  plenty,  barrel  generally  scarce.  It  is  but  seldom 
they  turn  their  attention  exclusively  to  making  barrel  staves, 


19 

and  they  are  made  only  of  timber  not  long  or  stout  enough 
for  hhd.  For  West  India  market,  W.  O.  Hhd.  Heading  are 
required,  and  of  those  we  seldom  get  a  sufficient  proportion. 
The  Q-vowth  of  the  tree  is  confined  to  narrow  limits  on  the 
borders  of  the  river  Cape  Fear.  Bed  Oak  Staves  are  to  be 
had  in  larger  numbers  than  those  of  the  White  Oak,  and  are 
•proportionably  cheap.  Pipe  Staves  are  never  made  here  — 
All  our  staves  are  generally  very  good.  In  the  further  pro- 
gress of  railroads  and  opening  to  the  country,  we  shall  ex- 
pect to  find  our  Stave  supply  revive. 

Main  Bar  of  Cape  Fear,  high  water  at  7  o'clock,  at  full  and 
change  of  the  moon ;  depth  formerly  18  feet,  but  the  Pilots 
now  say  only  13^  to  15  feet. 

New  Inlet  Bar,  high  water  at  7  o'clock,  at  full  and  change 
of  the  moon,  10  to  11^  feet. 

Tides,  on  each  Bar,  23erpendicular,  5  to  6  feet. 

Flatts,  5  to  6  miles  below  Wilmington,  10  to  11|  feet. 

Pdots  generally  attend  in  time  to  conduct  vessels  in  safe- 
ty ;  and  there  is  now  two  decked  boats  in  use,  besides  many 
open  boats. 

Course  in,  over  Main  Bar,  is  much  more  direct,  and  less 
difficult  than  formerly  : — a  Light  House  on  Bald  Head  Island, 
as  also  a  lighted  Beacon  at  New  Inlet. 

Lighterage  comes  on  all  vessels  above  10  to  12^  feet  at 
present,  in  consequence  of  some  operations  on  the  river  be- 
low town,  which  were  commenced  with  a  view  to  improvement. 

Also,  between  Flats  and  Smithville,  at  high  water,  are 
shoals  14  feet ;  consequently,  vessels  that  load  deeper  than 
14  feet,  must  go  down  to  Smithville  to  complete  their  cargoes. 
13 12  to  15  feet  water  may  be  carried  out  over  Main  Bar  ;  10 
to  11  feet,  New  Inlet. 


20 
WILMINGTON,  N.  0., 

ITS    PRESENT    AND   FUTURE. 

zfzezbzrtx-A-ir,-^,   1872. 


It  is  proposed,  in  the  following,  to  give  a  succinct  view  of 
the  Commerce  of  Wilmington  at  the  present  time,  its  com- 
mercial advantages  as  an  entrepot  for  many  cities  and  towns 
of  the  great  West,  and,  after  the  restoration  of  its  harbor, 
now  receiving  attention  from  the  General  Governmenfc,its 
necessarily  great  future. 

Those  interested  in  the  past  are  referred  to  the  remarks  of 
Joshua  Potts,  Esq.,  on  the  Trade  of  Wilmington  in  1815,  and 
those  of  Robert  W.  Brown,  Esq.,  in  1843  ;  and  it  is  suggest- 
ed that  a  comparison  of  the  statistics  of  the  present  with 
those  above  referred  to,  contain  matters  of  interest. 

Taking  the  harbor  as  it  was,  and,  as  it  is  confidently  ex- 
pected by  those  who  have  studied  the  matter,  it  will  be  again, 
by  a  judicious  management  of  the  Government  Works  now 
going  on,  and  completed,  we  have  a  capacious  harbor, 
easy  of  access  with  winds  from  almost  any  quarter,  perfectly 
land-locksd,  and  the  approaches  to  the  Bar  well  protected 
from  the  principal  storms  on  our  coast,  with  good  anchorage 
outside. 

Lying  to  the  Southward  of  all  the  dangerous  Capes  on 
the  coast  which  would  interfere  with  navigation  or  voyages 
to  and  from  all  Soufhern,  West  Indian  and  South  American 
Ports,  as  well  as  to  Europe,  a  considerable  saving  in  the 
single  item  of  marine  insurance  is  made. 

By  reference  to  the  report  of  exports  hence,  it  will  be  seen 
that  we  furnis&i  cargoes  of  every  thing  required  in  the  mar- 
ksts  of  the  West  Indies  and  South  America,  with  perhaps 
the  single  exception  of  Flour,  which  will  soon  be  within  our 
grasp.  Hence  we  are  enabled  to  furnish  full  cargoes  outward, 
and  the  return  voyage  with  cargoes  of  Sugars,  Coffee, 
Fruits,  Molasses,  and  other  tropical  products  would  be  laid 
down  in  our  market  cheaper  than  in  any  other   on  the   coast. 


21 

Again,  being  "  headquarters "  for  Spirits  of  Turpentine, 
Rosins,  Tar,  Pitch,  Lumber,  Timber,  &c,  we  are  enabled  to 
furnish  the  European  markets  with  these  products  on  the 
best  terms  and  to  receive  cargoes  in  return  of  their  products 
and  manufactures  laid  down  at  as  low  cost  as  in  any  other 
port. 

This  being  a  great  Rail  Road  centre,  with  one  line  extend- 
ing Southward  and  Westward  through  the  Gulf  States  ;  with 
another,  in  course  of  completion,  extending  its  arms  almost 
in  an  air  line  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  Chicago 
and  other  cities  of  the  great  Northwest ;  another  extending 
Northward  and  connecting  with  Hues  to  every  point  of  the 
country,  offer  every  facility  for  the  safe  and  rapid  distribu- 
tion of  importations,  and  for  the  return  of  the  products  of 
the  whole  country  for  exportation. 

By  reference  to  the  maps'of  the  country,"  it  will  be  seen 
that  our  claim  of  being  the  nearest  Port  to  Cincinnati, 
Louisville,  and  other  cities  of  the  West  is  a  literal  fact,  the 
advantages  of  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  detail  to  those 
interested. 

Steam  communication  on  the  Cape  Fear  River  is  had  with 
Eayetteville,  and  by  a  comparatively  small  outlay  for  im- 
provement of  the  navigation  of  the  upper  rivers,  which  is  in 
part  complete,  would  put  us  in  easy  reach  of  the  great  de- 
posits of  Iron,  Coal  and  variousjDther  minerals  in  which  the 
valley  of  Deep  River  abounds.  The  development  of  these 
mining  interest,  only^  awaits  the  restoration,  of  our  harbor. 
Then,  the  value  of  this  Port  to  the  General  Government 
as  a  coaling  and  Naval  Station,  can  hardly  be  estimated. 

The  trade  of  this  Port  is  steadily  and  constantly  increas- 
ing, and  as  our  harbor  improves  will  continue  to  do  so  in 
more  rapid  proportion. 

Since  the  late  "war  between  the  States"  the  article  of 
Rice,  which  was  at  one" time  among  our  principal  articles  of 
Export,  has  almost  ceased  to  be  produced,  owing  to  the  in- 
different and  hard  to  be  controlled  labor.  The  crop  will  not 
now  exceed  10,000  bushels,  not^enough  for  home  demand. 

The  production  of  Cotton    in  this   State  has   been  very 


0  0 


largely  increased,  and  although  no  accurate  figures  can  be 
given,  in  consequence  of  a  large  portion  leaving  the  State, 
via  the  ports  of  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  it  is  believed 
that  the  crop  amounts  to  at  least  200,000  bales.  At  this 
port  is  handled  Cotton  from  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  as 
well  as  our  own  State,  and  during  the  year  1871  there  were 
exported,  principally  coastwise,  over  93,000  bales.  The  ex- 
tension of  the  Wilmington,  Charlotte  &  Kutherford  Bail 
Road  and  its  completion,  will,  it  is  estimated,  at  least  double 
our  receipts  of  "the  Staple." 

Spirits  of  Turpentine  is  manufactured  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  city,  and  the  whole  pine  region  of  this  State 
and  South  Carolina  is  dotted  wTith  numerous  distilleries 
worked  by  owners  or  tenants  of  the  forests.  Most  of  the 
products  find  their  way  to  this  market. 

Exports  of  Naval  Stores  for  the  past  year  from  this  Port 
have  been  as  follows  : 

Spirits  Turpentine,  bbls.,  Coastwise,  61,862,  Foreign,  17,162 
Rosins,  "  "        411,311,        "       127,100 

Tar,  "  "  31,993,        "  5,874 

Turpentine,  "  "  17,126,        "  836 

Leaving  stocks  in  Port  of  Spirits  Turpentine,  7,299  bar- 
rels ;  Rosins,  72,166  barrels ;  Tar,  2,640  barrels,  and  Crude 
Turpentine,  2,812  barrels. 

Pitch  is  manufactured  in  sufficient  quantity  only  to  supply 
the  demand,  and  the  reputation  of  ''  Wilmington  Pitch  "  is 
excelled  by  none.  The  manufacture  of  this  article  is  con- 
fined to  the  distillers  of  Turpentine  in  this  city,  very  little 
being  made  in  the  country. 

These  articles  alone  show  material  to  occupy  quite 
a  fleet  of  vessels.  In  this  connection,  it  should  be  stated 
that  no  vessel  has  ever  been  obliged  from  choice  to  leave 
this  Port  in  ballast ! 

The  Timber  and  Lumber  trade,  though  not  what  it  was  fif- 
teen years  since,  has  steadily  increased  since  the  war,  and 
.should  soon  reach  and  exceed  its  former  figures. 

Our  Shingles,  (Cypress  and  Juniper,  or  Cedar,)  have  an 
established  reputation  in  the  Northern   and  West  India 


markets,  and  may  be  had  in  quantity  to  suit  any  demand, 
from  the  wide  extended  and.  heavily  timbered  swamps  on 
Our  water  courses  and  Railways. 

Staves  could  be  had  of  the  best  white  or  red  oak  to  supply 
any  demand.  At  present  they  are  called  for  almost  entirely 
for  home  consumption. 

Our  principal  supplies  of  Corn  reach  us  by  sea  from  the 
Eastern  counties  ;  but  our  rail  connections  with  the  West 
will  soon  throw  the  corn  and  other  grain  from  that  section 
into  competition. 

The  supplies  of  Wheat,  Flour,  Tobacco,  Bacon,  Pork, 
Butter,  Beef,  Lard,  Tallow,  Beeswax,  Whiskey,  Brandy,  and 
other  products-  and  manufactures  can  be  laid  down  here  as- 
cheap  as  any  point. 

Peanuts  are  produced  to  considerable  extent  in  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  form  quite  a  feature  in  our  Domestic 
exports.  The  crop  of  1870-' 71  amounted  to  about  100,000 
bushels  of  an  aggregate  value  of  $200,000.  The  crop  this 
year  is  largely  in  excess. 

Among  the  manufactures  of  interest  and  value  should  be 
mentioned  Cane  Fibre,  by  a  patented  process  from  the 
swamp  cane  with  which  our  swamps  abound,  and  which  is 
reproduced  in  three  years  after  cutting,  and  of  a  quality 
superior  to  the  original  growth.  The  prepared  fibre  is  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  paper  and  papieri'-maehe  goods. 

Barrel  Shooks  are  manufactured  to  a  great  extent  and 
shipped  to  Northern  markets  for  the  reception  of  syrups 
from  Sugar  manufactories. 

Fuel  for  manufacturing  purposes  is  very  cheap,  and  prin- 
cipally of  the  surplus  sawdust  and  shavings  from  Steam  Saw 
and  Planing  mills,  which  may  be  had  for  the  asking.  Pine 
Wood  is  in  abundance  at  low  prices. 

Banking  facilities  are  by  no  means  sufficient  to  meet  the 
demands  of  trade;  but  as  our  people  recuperate  more 
steadily  from  the  disastrous  effects  of  their  late  struggle, 
this  want  is  being  supplied. 

In  present  condition  of  our  Bar  and  River,  vessels  draw- 
ing over  12  to  12^-  feet  require  to  be  lightered  to  and  from  a 


24 

point  outside  the  "Rip"  whence  they  can  always  sail  with 
15|  to  16  feet. 

Our  harbor  restored,  we  confidently  expect  to  find  at  least 
20  feet  at  mean  low  tide  on  the  Bar  (with  a  rise  of  tide  4  to 
5  feet,)  and  the  removal  of  obstructions  in  the  River,  placed 
there  by  the  authorities  during  the  Revolution  of  1776,  will 
give  us  ample  water  to  our  docks. 

From  the  Reports  of  the  Engineers  in  charge  of  the  work 
of  restoring  the  harbor,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  work  accom- 
plished is  quite  satisfactory,  and  by  comparison  with  the 
regular  monthly  reports  of  the  Committee  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  that  the  progress  of  the  work  is  steady,  and 
from  the  gradual  formation  of  sand  beach  on  the  outside, 
almost  keeping  pace  with  the  work  itself,  that  Nature  is  doing 
her  part  fully  in  securing  the  structure,  and  this  fact  assures 
us  of  the  permanency  of  the  work.  Of  the  effects  of  the  work 
on  our  Bar  ;  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is  a  constantly, 
though  very  gradual  increase  of  depth,  and  the  opinion  gen- 
erally prevails  that  the  continuation  of  the  work  to  comple- 
tion, on  the  general  plans  as  suggested,  modified  from  time 
to  time  as  may  be  necessary  from  the  action  of 
nature,  will  without  doubt  result  in  the  complete 
restoration  of  our  harbor  to  its  former  capacity. 
The  future  di  our  city  is  then  guaranteed  !  And  the  induce- 
ments offered  for  cheap  and  short  transportation  to  a  first- 
class  harbor  on  the  coast,  and  for  the  same  by  sea  to  any 
part  of  the  world,  will  bring  to  our  market  sufficient  produce 
to  employ  a  fleet  as  large  as  is  necessary  in  any  part  of  the 
country. 

A  great  deal  rests  with  our  own  merchants  as  to  whether 
these  predictions,  for  early  fulfillment,  shall  be  realized ;  and 
it  becomes  the  plainest  duty  of  each  and  all  of  us  to  use 
every  honorable  exertion  to  effect  a  consummation  of  our 
plans. 


■     •  25 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  15tli  January,  1872. 
Col.  Wm.  L.  DeBosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Sie — At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Chamber,  on  the  lltli 
inst.,  a  resolution  was  passed  requesting  the  Committee  on 
Bar  and  River  Improvements  to  collate  all  their  reports  and 
communications  to  the  Chamber,  relating  to  Cape  Fear  river 
and  its  improvements  ;  also,  statistics  and  facts  in  its  history, 
with  the  probable,  direct,  and  lateral  bearing  and  influence 
which  tlfese  improvements  may  have  (if  successfully  carried 
out)  upon  our  commerce,  trade,  agriculture,  and  general  pro- 
gress. In  answer  to  which,  your  Committee  beg  leave  to 
report : 

We  herewith  present  duplicates  of  all  the  reports  which 
have  been  published,  which  we  can  find.  Several  reports 
made  to  the  Chamber  in  the  early  history  of  the  work,  me- 
morials to  Congress,  and  correspondence,  of  which  duplicates 
were  not  preserved,  have  been  lost  or  mislaid. 

The  earliest  reliable  information  we  have  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river,  its  entrance  and  harbor,  is  to  be  found  in  a  Map  by 
Edward  Moseley,  in  1733,  and  another  by  James  Wimble  in 
1738.  Both  of  these  maps,  although  apparently  imperfect, 
compared  with  similar  maps  of  the  present  day,  nevertheless 
represent  the  harbor  as  capacious,  of  good  anchorage,  well 
land-locked,  easy  of  access,  and  with  four  (4)  fathoms  water 
upon  the  bar,  (supposed  at  mean  low  tide.)  About  this 
draught  of  water  was  carried  by  a  bold  and  direct  channel 
on  the  East  side  of  Big  Island,  to  the  town  of  Wilmington. 

The  next  we  hear  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  is  through  Wheel- 
er's History  of  North  Carolina,  (extracted  from  the  London 
Magazine,)  giving  an  account  of  the  most  violent  equinoctial 
storm  which  had  ever  occurred  upon  the  coast  forcing  open 
an  entrance  into  the  river,  at  a  point  known  as  the  haul-over, 
now  known  as  the  New  Inlet.  This  storm  commenced  on  the 
20th  of  September,  1761,  and  lasted  for  four  days. 

This  Inlet,  from  long  neglect,  has  become  formidable,  de- 
tracting a  large  portion  of  the  river  water  from  its  legitimate 
outlet,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  river  and  lower  harbor. 


20 

In  1775,  a  Map  of  Cape  Fear  River  (more  accurate  in  its 
details  than  the  two  first  alluded  to)  was  published  in  Lon-* 
don,  which  laid  down  the  New  Inlet,  but  does  not  materially 
vary  the  harbor,  cutlet,  or  draught  of  water  upon  the  bar,  or 
the  channel  of  the  river  up  to  the  town  of  Wilmington. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Safety  Committee  of  Wilmington,  hekl 
on  the  20th  of  November,  1775,  John  Ancrum  presiding,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  passed  : 

"  The  Committee,  taking  into  consideration  the  damage 
with  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  ai$s  threat- 
ened by  the  King's  ships  now  in  the  harbor,  and  the  open 
and  avowed  contempt  and  Violation  of  justice  in  the  conduct 
of  Governor  Martin,  who,  with  the  assistance  of  said  ships, 
is  endeavoring  to  carry  off  the  artillery,  the  property  of  this 
province,  and  the  gift  of  his  late  Majesty  of  blessed  memory, 
for  our  protection  from  foreign  invasions,  have 

"  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  John  Forster,  William  Wilkinson, 
and  John  Slingsby,  or  any  one  of  them,  be  empowered  to 
procure  necessary  vessels,  boats,  and  chains,  to  sink  in  such 
part  of  the  channel  as  they  or  any  of  them1  may  think  pro^ 
per,  to  agree  for  the  purchase  of  such  boats  and  other  mate- 
rials as  may  be  wanted;  and  to  have  them  valued,  that  the 
owners  may  be  reimbursed  by  the  public  :  And  it  is  further 
ordered,  that  the  said  John  Forster  &  Co.  do  consult  the  Com- 
mittee of  Brunswick  on  this  measure,  and  request  their  con^ 
currence." 

A  knowledge  of  the  men  of  that  period,  with  the  boister- 
ous circumstances  which  surrounded  them,  is  sufficient  evi- 
dence that  this  order  was  implicitly  obeyed  and  effectually 
executed,  no  report  of  their  action  being  required  or  expected. 
Tradition  assures  us  that  these  obstacles  were  placed  a- 
cross  the  channel  at  Big  Island.  We  therefore  feel  justified 
in  saying  that  the  channel,  as  laid  down  by  all  previous  maps, 
was,  at  that  time  and  place,  obstructed'  agreeably  to  the  or- 
der, as  subsequent  events  would  seem  to  imply.  From  time 
to  time,  logs,  stumps,  and  other  drftt  matter,  brought  down 
by  freshets,  lodged^  against  the  obstructions,  backing  up 
nearly  to  the  narrows,  and  forming  what  is  known  as  the  flats 
or  shoal  of  logs,  which,  as  it  increased,  gradually  forced  the 
water  through  an  opening  on  the  West  side  of  Big  Island, 
and  in  course  of  time  scoured  out  a  channel  sufficient  to  ac- 


27 

commodate  tke  commerce  of  the  port,  and  so  remained  until 
about  the  year  1826. 

In  the  year  1797-'98,  a  survey  and  map  of  Cape  Fear  riv- 
er, its  harbor  and  outlets,  was  made  by  Joshua  Potts.  At 
this  time,  thirty-seven  years  after  the  breaking  out  of  New 
Inlet,  we  find  very  little  alteration  in  the  harbor  or  outlet. — 
The  Bar  representing  twenty  feet  of  water,  (supposed  at 
mean  low  tide,)  while  the  channels  of  the  river  up  to  Wil- 
mington had  undergone  material  change,  and  very  much  de- 
preciated. 

About  the  year  1820,  the  State  of  North  Carolina  (failing 
to  interest  the  General  Government  in  the  matter)  undertook 
the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  river.  The  work 
was  placed  in  charge  of  Hamilton  Fulton,  a  Scotch  engineer 
of  some  celebrity,  who  prosecuted  the  work  for  several  years 
with  little  success,  not  seeming  to  comprehend  the  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  restoring  the  old  Eastern  channel,  when,  about 
the  year  1825,  the  State  was  relieved  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment, which  placed  the  work  in  charge  of  Captain  Bache, 
who  likewise  prosecuted  the  work  for  some  time  with  no  bet- 
ter success,  when  it  was  abandoned  until  about  the  year 
1855,  when  the  improvement  of  the  harbor  was  again  under- 
taken by  the  Government,  which,  in  the  meantime,  had  been 
materially  damaged  by  washing  away  a  large  portion  of  the 
beach  near  New  Inlet,  bringing  the  sand  into  the  river,  form- 
ing shoals,  changing  the  channel,  and  filling  up  to  some  ex- 
tent the  main  outlet.  It  is  significant,  that  as  the  New  Inlet 
widened  and  deepened,  in  like  proportion  the  Main  Bar 
shoaled,  maintaining,  however,  in  the  aggregate  of  both,  the 
original  standard  draught  on  Main  Bar  of  about  twenty-five 
feet,  thus  proving  the  efficiency  of  the  volume  of  water  pass- 
ing down  the  river  to  scour  out  and  maintain  one  first-class 
bar. 

The  work,  through  inadequate  appropriations,  progressed 
very  slowly  for  several  years,  with  doubtful  success,  when 
further  appropriations  ceased,  and  the  work  was  again  aban- 
doned, without  gaining  any  point  or  accomplishing  any  ma- 
terial object  towards  reclaiming  the  harbor,  until  1870,  when 
the  present  work  commenced. 


28 

Through  the  influence  and  efforts  of  our  Senator  in  Con- 
gress, Gen.  J.  C.  Abbott,  an  appropriation  of  $100,000  was 
obtained  from  the  40fch  Congress,  at  its  session  of  1869-70, 
for  the  improvement  of  Cape  Fear  river,  Which  became  avail- 
able in  July,  1870. 

This  work  was  assigned  to  the  department  included  in  the 
charge  of  Gen.  J.  H.  Simpson,  U.  S.  A.  Preparations  were 
commenced  in  August,  and  active  operations  upon  the  break- 
water, starting  from  the  northern  point  of  Smith's  Island 
beach,  crossing  Deep  Inlet  in  the  direction  of  Zeke's  Island, 
were  commenced  in  September,  1870,  by  Major  Walter  Gris- 
wold,  Assistant  Engineer. 

In  November,  General  Simpson  was  relieved  of  duty  here, 
and  the  work  was  assigned  to  the  department  under  the 
charge  of  Col.  "Wm.  P.  Craighill. 

Through  the  same  influence  and  efforts  a  second  appro- 
priation of  $75,000  was  obtained  from  the  41st  Congress, 
session  of  1870-'71,  which  became  available  in  July,  1871. 

Of  the  progress  of  the  work,  we  beg  to  refer  to  our  monthly 
reports  to  the  Chamber.  Owing  to  the  inadequacy  of  the 
appropriations  the  work  has  necessarily  progressed  very 
slowly,  but  by  judicious  management  much  has  been  accom- 
plished. Up  to  this  time  over  one  thousand  feet  of  the 
break-water  has  been  finished  and  permanently  secured  over 
the  most  difficult  and  expensive  part  of  the  line.  In  addition 
to  which,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  beach  has  been  re' 
claimed  and  secured,  which  was  in  a  dangerous  and  exposed 
condition.  The  introduction  of  the  cultivation  of  the  "Caro- 
lina Beach  Grass"  promises  much  towards  increasing  and 
strengthening  the  beach,  as  well  as  protecting  it  in  the 
future. 

From  the  foregoing  statement  it  is  evident  that  the  Cape 
Fear  Harbor  once  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  and  facilities 
which  it  is  now  claimed  that  she  can,  and  of  right,  ought  again 
to  enjoy  :  the  only  question  on  the  subject  is,  as  to  the  prac- 
ticability of  its  restoration.  This  question  we  consider  fully 
settled,  as  well  by  experience  and  observation  in  the  past, 
as  the  trite  axiom  that  whatever  has  been  may  be  again, 


29 

A  kindly  feeling  and  generous  spirit  exercised  toward  us 
at  this  time  by  Congress  and  the  proper  departments  of  the 
Government,  will  reclaim  and  secure  one  of  the  most  valua- 
ble harbors  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

The  Government  has  heretofore  done  very  little  for  North 
Carolina,  and  that  little  has  been  doled  out  as  though  in 
mere  charity,  in  such  inadequate  amounts  as  really  to  ac- 
complish no  tangible  good,  while  millions  of  the  public 
treasure  have  been  lavished  upon  far  less  worthy  objects. 

That  the  Goverment  has,  for  over  a  century,  neglected 
her  duty  in  repairing  this  harbor  until  the  damage  has 
become  formidable,  can  surely  be  no  justification  for  longer 
delay. 

And  that  she  has  likewise,  for  near  a  century,  neglected 
to  remove  obstructions  from  the  channel  of  the  river,  placed 
there  by  our  ancestors  as  a  means  of  public  defence  in  their 
terrible  struggle  for  independence  of  Great  Britain,  certainly 
cannot  be  used  as  a  pretext  for  longer  delay,  while  our  com- 
merce and  trade  languish,  and  our  State,  without  an  em- 
porium, impoverished  thereby. 

Moreover,  it  is  manifestly  the  best  interest  of  the  Govern- 
ment to  restore  this  harbor  effectually  and  speedily,  and  she 
would  but  display  her  wisdom  and  foresight  in  so  doing  at 
any  cost.     Why  and  wherefore  ? 

She  would  thereby  secure  a  long  needed  desideratum.  A  harbor 
of  refuge  and  convenience,  exactly  where  the  commerce 
and  navy  of  the  country  require  it,  intermediate  between 
the  Northern  and  Southern  sections  of  the  country  ;  in  fact, 
upon  the  exact  line  of  division,  with  all  the  advantages  of 
both,  and  subject  to  the  disadvantages  of  neither  ;  capacious 
and  well  land-locked ;  easy  of  access  for  vessels  of  large 
class,  with  good  anchorage,  while  Smith's  Island  stands  a 
perfect  and  permanent  protection  to  the  outlet ;  with  a  cli- 
mate excelled  by  no  other  in  salubrity ;  situated  within  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  the  finest  and  most  varied  mineral 
district  in  the  country,  (including  steaming  coal  of  fine 
quality,  and  abundant  supply,)  accessible  by  water  naviga- 
tion or  by  railroad. 


O'J 


At  trifling  cost  this  harbor  could  be  connected  by  an  in- 
land Avater  communication  with  the  entire  seacoast  lying  be- 
tween the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Winyaw  Bay,  which  abounds 
in  the  finest  live  oak  and  cedar  timber,  thus  affording  to  the 
Government  every  requisite  for  a  naval  station,  while  it 
would  prove  a  most  convenient  coaling  station  for  general 
commerce. 

The  port  of  Wilmington  is  well  watered,  and  the  Cape 
Fear  river  water  has  long  been  acknowledged  as  of  superior 
quality  for  ship  use  on  long  voyages. 

We  now  proximate  the  concluding  paragraph  of  your 
resolution  ;  the  bearing  and  effect  the  restoration  of  this 
harbor  will  probably  have  upon  commerce,  trade,  agriculture 
and  general  progress. 

One  importaMt  effect  it  would  probatly  have  would  be  to 
admit  to  our  shore  '' emigrant  ships,"  laden  with  the  surplus 
population  of  Europe,  to  people  our  country  with  hardy, 
laboring  citizens,  who  will  utilize  our  abundant  forests  and 
waste  places,  cultivate  our  lands,  work  our  mines,  and  put  in 
motion  factories  and  workshops,  not  yet  dreamed  of.  It 
would  be  well  to  remember  that  any  attempt  to  introduce 
foreign  labor  into  our  State,  through  the  ports  of  other 
States,  to  some  .extent  must  prov.e  abortive. 

Another  probable  effect  would  be  to  give  a  new  impetus  to 
"  internal  improvements:'"  People  must  and  will  have  cheap 
and  convenient  highways  to  market,  at  least,  and  the  people's 
interest  in  this  matter  will  be  the  interest  of  the  country  at 
large,  as  all  history  conclusively  establishes.  Railroads  and 
canals,  not  now  thought  of,  will  radiate  in  every  direction  ; 
unnavigable  rivers  and  creeks  will  be  cleaned  out  and  made 
navigable,  and  remote  corners  of  the  country  opened  to 
market. 

Existing  railroads  will  be  strengthened  and  stimulated  to 
push  their  lines  through  the  mountains  into  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  shake  hands  with  the  great  cities  of 
the  West. 

Through  the  influence  of  this  "  restored  Jiarbor  "  commerce 
and  trade  will  lift  their  drooping  heads  and  smile  again. 


fl 


1 


By  reference  to  the  maps  of  tjhe  country  it  will  be  seen 
that  Chicago,  St.  Loitis,  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  are  as 
near,  if  not  nearer  to  Wilmington,  than  to  any  other  seaport 
of  the  Atlantic  coast,  while  Memphis  is  about  the  same  dis- 
trnce  as  to  Charleston,  and  a  trifle  further  than  to  Savannah. 

Our  position  and  facilities  for  trade  with  the  West  ladies 
and  "  South  America  "  give  us  decided  advantages  over  any 
other  city  of  the  Atlantic  coast  as  a  market  for  coffee,  sugar, 
molasses,  salt,  guano  and  all  other  productions  of  those 
countries,  which  can  be*  exchanged  with  our  Western  friends 
for  corn,  Wheat,  flour,  bacon,  lard  and  other  productions  of 
that  region,  to  say  nothing  of  our  home  productions — timber,- 
lumber  and  naval  stores. 

Our  port  being  south  of  all  the  dangerous  capes  and  shoals 
of  the  coast,  subjects  US  to  less  time  and  hazard,  consequently 
more  dispatch  and  less  insurance  in  the  conduct  of  the  trade, 
While  our  facilities  for  an  European  trade  would  be  as  good 
Or  better  than  the  average  of  shipping  ports. 

We  therefore  respectfully  invite  the  attention  of  the  cities 
and  States  of  the  Western  and  Northwestetn  country  to  this 
subject,  to  investigate  it  and  see  whether  their  interest  is  not 
identified  with  ours  sufficiently  to  justify  a  joint  appeal  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  through  our  representatives, 
for  the  perfect  restoration  of  Cape  Pear  harbor. 

By  reference  to  the  report  of  a  committee  of  the  40th  Con- 
gress, on  the  policy  of  extending  government  aid  to  addition- 
al railroads  to  the  Pacific,  it  will  be  seen  that  Wilmington  on 
the  Atlantic,  Memphis  on  the  Mississippi,  and  San  Diego  on 
the  Pacific,  form  almost  a  straight  line,  and  very  nearly  up* 
on  the  same  parallel  of  latitude.  This  line  passes  through 
an  apparently  favorable  country  for  the  location  of  such  a 
road,  more  direct,  and  promising  much  less  cost  of  construc- 
tion per  mile,  and  far  less  of  mileage  in  crossing  the  conti- 
nent, than  any  other  finished  or  proposed  line  ;  moreover, 
being  more  exempt  from  disasters  and  detentions  from  tho 
ice  and  snows  of  winter. 

This  road  will  surely  be  built,  and  that  at  no  distant  day, 
Would  it,  therefore,  be  considered  presumption  in  us  to  as* 


pire  to  a  participation  in  the  traffic  of  this  road  and  its  con- 
nections ?  Why  not,  if  we  are  in  condition  to  invite  it  by 
sufficient  inducements  ? 

"  To  our  City,"  and  its  commerce,  with  all  the  ramifica- 
tions of  general  progress,  the  benefits  would  be  unbounded 
— their  details  would  prove  too  lengthy  for  this  communica- 
tion. 

"  To  our  State,"  it  would  be  her  "  pride  "  to  point  to  an 
"  Emporium  "  in  every  respect  worthy  of  her,  which  at  once; 
and  forever,  emancipates  her  from  the  humiliating  commer- 
cial vassalage  to  other  States  under  which  she  has  so  long 
labored,  securing  to  her  own  citizens  all  the  benefits  arising 
from  an  import  and  export  trade. 

In  conclusion,  your  Committee  beg  leave  to  express  the 
opinion,  that  the  restoration  of  Cape  Fear  Harbor  and  River  is 
the  "pivot,"  the  turning  point,  in  the  future  prosperity  of 
Wilmington — the  Honor  and  Grandeur  of  North  Carolina 
— while  it  places  a  brilliant  jeivel  in  the  coronet  of  the  United 
States  op  America. 

HENRY  NUTT,  Chairman. 


"  OUR  BARS  AND  RIVER.'7 


We  give  below  the  interesting  report  submitted  to  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  this  city  at  the  last  regular  meet- 
ing, by  the  Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  in  relation 
to  our  bars  and  river.  There  is  much  in  this  report  of  his- 
torical interest,  and  the  comparison  of  the  present  disadvan- 
tages of  our  bars,  with  the  former  natural  advantages,  should 
beget  the  resolve  in  the  minds  of  those  interested  (and  who 
is  not)  to  try  every  means  in  their  power  to  have  it  properly 
improved.  We  think  that  we  have  a  right  to  expect  some 
aid  from  Congress,  and  hope  the  matter  will  be  put  through; 
The  report  is  as  follows  i 


00 

To  the  President  and  Members  of  the 

Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  City  of  Wilmington,  JST.  C: 
Your  Committee,  appointed  in  August  last,  to  consider  the 
present  condition  of  our  "  Bars  and  River,"  and  to  investi- 
gate the  causes  leading  to  the  constant  depreciation  of  the 
draught  of  water  upon  the  same,  and  of  suggesting  some 
plan  of  arresting  the  damaging  effects  upon  our  navigation 
by  further  neglect  and  delay,  beg  leave  to  report  that  they 
have  diligently  searched,  but  without  success,  for  some  of 
the  old  charts  and  surveys  of  the  bars  and  river,  made  prior 
to  the  year  1820,  and  before  the  breaking  out  of  New  Inlet, 
which  were  known  to  be  extant,  and  in  possession  of  your 
Chamber  and  many  of  our  citizens  prior  to  the  breaking  out 
of  hostilities  between  the  sections.  All  seem  to  have  been 
destroyed  or  lost.  None  could  be  found  except  those  made 
under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey  since 
the  year  182G.  These  were  procured  from  "Washington  City 
through  the  courtesy  of  our  Collector,  D.  Eumley,  Esq. — 
Those  old  charts  were  deemed  essential  in  making  a  compari- 
son of  the  draught  of  water  upon  the  bar,  and  the  position  of 
the  channels  before  and  after  the  breaking  out  of  New  Inlet, 
which  would  better  enable  your  Committee  to  offer  direct 
and  positive  recorded  evidence  of  the  causes  which  produced 
the  present  depreciated  condition  of  our  navigation,  and  the 
almost  certainty  of  continued  depreciation,  unless  speedily 
arrested. 

Tour  Committee,  therefore,  find  themselves  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  offering  for  your  consideration  facts  from  memory 
only,  contained  in  the  traditionary  history  of  the  country. — 
James  Newton,  an  old  and  highly  respectable  pilot,  who  was 
born  and  raised,  lived  and  died,  near  Federal  Point,  told  one 
of  your  Committee  a  short  time  before  his  death,  (a  few  years 
ago,)  that  he  well  remembered  the  first  breaking  out  of  New 
Inlet,  during  the  prevalence  of  a  long  and  terrific  Northeast 
gale,  in  the  month  of  September,  1781.  That  prior  to  that 
time  he  had  frequently  walked  and  ridden  to  Bald  Head 
Beach,  now  Smith's  Island. 

The  late  Capt.  Thomas  N.  Gautier,  who  was  a  merchant  of 


34 

this  place  during  the  period  of  time  included  between  the 
years  1790  and  1810,  told  one  of  your  Committee  that,  du- 
ring that  period,  among  many  others,  he  had  loaded  one  ship 
to  thirty  feet  draught,  which  proceeded  down  the  river  and 
to  sea,  on  her  voyage  to  London,  without  difficulty  or  inter- 
ruption. 

During  the  years  1797-98,  about  eighteen  years  after  the 
first  breaking  out  of  New  Inlet,  and  twenty  years  before  it 
came  into  use  for  the  smallest  sized  sailing  craft,  a  survey  of 
Cape  Fear  bar  and  harbor  was  made  by  the  late  Joshua 
Potts,  (an  engineer  of  some  celebrity,)  exhibiting  a  draught 
of  water  on  Main  Bar  of  twenty-four  or  twenty-five  feet  at 
mean  low  tide.  Older  charts  than  this  exhibit  a  greater 
draught  of  water,  particulars  of  which,  however,  are  not  ac- 
curately remembered  by  your  Committee.  Many  old  citi- 
zens, now  living,  remember  to  have  seen,  at  our  wharves, 
vessels  drawing  fifteen  to  eighteen  feet  water.  But,  about 
the  year  1820,  as  the  depth  of  water  increased  on  New  Inlet, 
in  like  proportion  it  diminished  on  the  Main  Bar,  maintain- 
ing upon  both  the  aggregate  of  about  twenty-five  feet.  These 
facts  in  the  history  of  the  past  are  conclusive  evidence,  in 
the  minds  of  your  Committee,  that  the  true  and  real  cause  of 
the  present  alarming  condition  of  the  navigation  of  our  bars 
and  river,  is  to  be  found  in  the  existence  of  the  new  inlets, 
and  that  alone. 

One  of  your  Committee,  at  least,  is  able  to  testify,  from  his 
own  observations  of  the  operations  of  closing  those  inlets 
just  prior  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  of  the  perfect 
practicability  and  ease  with  which  the  work  was  accomplish- 
ed. Feeling,  therefore,  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  practi- 
cability of  restoring  to  our  port  and  State  the  advantages  of 
our  former  and  natural  commerce  and  trade,  and,  feeling  it 
to  be  perfectly  competent  and  within  the  province  of  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  at  comparatively  trifling 
cost,  to  accomplish  this  great  end,  we  recommend  your  body, 
without  delay,  to  memorialize  Congress  through  our  Senator, 
General  Abbott,  and  request  the  co-operation  of  all  our  del- 
egation to  Congress,  in  urging  upon   that  body  the  impor- 


tance  and  absolute  necessity  of  prompt  and  efficient  action 
In  saving  from  utter  destruction  an  important  port,  at  an  im- 
portant point  on  the  Southern  coast,  which  will  be  worth 
millions  to  the  commerce  of  the  country. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  HENRY  NXJTT,  )  Com- 

JOHN  WILDER  ATKINSON,  V  m  i  t  - 
JAS.  H.  CHADBOURN,  J   tee. 

13th  December,  1868. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  13th  October,  1869. 
To  the  President  and  Members 

Of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Tour  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  matter 
connected  with  the  condition  and  improvement  of  our  Bars 
and  River,  beg  leave  to  report  that  the  subject  has  had  their 
utmost  consideration. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
our  Senator,  Gen.  Abbott,  who  seems  to  take  a  lively  interest 
in  the  enterprise,  as  also  other  members  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina delegation,  introduced  a  bill  into  that  body,  making  an 
appropriation  for  the  work,  which  was  referred  to  the  legiti- 
mate committee  for  consideration  ;  but,  owing  to  an  extraor- 
dinary press  of  what  was  deemed  more  important  business, 
this  bill  was  not  reached  before  the  adjournment  of  Con- 
gress, and  did  not  receive  its  proper  consideration.  Other 
means  were  used  by  our  Senator  for  accomplishing  the  pur- 
pose, by  attaching  it  to  the  general  appropriation  bill,  but 
without  success. 

During  the  past  summer,  at  the  suggestion  of  your  Com- 
mittee, General  Abbott  invited  three  prominent  members  of 
Congress,  who  were  passing  South  through  our  city  on  offi- 
cial business,  to  spend  a  day  with  us,  in  a  reconnoisance  of 
the  bars  and  river.  The  day  and  tides  were  favorable  for 
the  excursion,  and  they  expressed  much  satisfaction  at  the 


36 

visit,  and  conviction  of  the  importance  of  the  proposed  work, 
as  well  as  the  necessity  of  prompt  action  by  Congress  for  the 
preservation  of  the  port.  From  all  which,  your  Committee 
feel  assured  of  the  co-operation  of  Messrs.  Bingham,  El- 
dridge,  and  Loughridge,  when  the  subject  shall  come  up  for 
final  action  by  Congress.  Upon  a  review  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject, your  Committee  feel  greatly  encouraged  that  something 
effective  will  be  accomplished  at  the  approaching  session  of 
Congress. 

Your  Committee  feel  assured  that  the  heart  and  soul  of 
General  Abbott  is  in  this  matter,  and  that,  with  his  known 
energy  and  perseverance,  no  stone  will  be  left  unturned  for 
the  consummation  of  its  accomplishment.  And  in  this  view 
of  the  subject,  he  suggests,  and  asks  your  body  to  appoint 
and  send  to  "Washington,  during  the  session  of  Congress  this 
winter,  a  committee,  to  co-operate  with  him,  inasmuch  as  a 
large  portion  of  his  time,  which  should  be  devoted  to  outside 
service  and  canvassing  the  subject,  will  be  required  in  the 
house. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


HARBOR  REPORT. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Mayor 

And  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  Wilmington : 
Gentlemen  : — In  compliance  with  your  request,  of  the  10th 
ult.,  I  proceeded  to  "Washington  City  for  the  purpose  of 
submitting  a  plan  to  the  United  States  Government,  by  which 
the  necessary  improvements  on  the  bar,  commonly  known  as 
the  "  Old  Ship  Channel  Bar,"  could  be  attempted  with  a 
comparatively  small  outlay,  and  a  fair  chance  of  getting  from 


37 

12  to  13  feet  water  at  mean  low  tide   over   this  bar,  which 
would  give  us  from  16^  to  17^  feet  at  high  tide. 

On  my  arrival  at  Washington,  I  laid  my  plan  before  Sena- 
tor Abbott  and  Eepresentative  Dockery,  and  after  satisfying 
them  of  the  feasibility  of  the  same,  consulted  with  them  as 
to  the  best  mode  by  which  we  could  most  easily  obtain  the 
amount  necessary  to  begin  practically  our  attempts  of  im- 
provements with  as  little  delay  as  possible  ;  for,  in  my  opin- 
ion, judging  from  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  since 
1865,  as  shown  by  the  last  partial  survey  of  1869,  by  United 
States  Coast  Survey,  we  have  no  time  to  lose  in  making  a  be- 
ginning, and  so  avoid  the  danger  of  our  bar's  being  shoaled 
to  an  extent  that  would  prevent  any  but  vessels  of  very  small 
draught  to  enter  our  harbor. 

Tn  accordance  with  the  advice  and  assistance  of  these  gen- 
tlemen, I  proceeded  to  the  respective  departments  to  which 
all  matters  on  improvements  of  this  kind  are  referred,  and 
urged  on  them  the  immediate  necessity  of  the  case,  indica- 
ted my  plan  by  which  this  work  could  be  commenced,  and 
am  happy  to  state  that  the  Superintendent  of  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey recommends,  in  his  report  to  Senator  Abbott,  the  neces- 
sity of  the  improvement,  and  that  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars be  appropriated  for  the  commencement  of  the  work. 

The  bar,  in  the  Old  Ship  Channel,  which  I  selected  for  im- 
provement, has  shoaled  two  and  a  half  feet  in  the  last  five 
years,  and  therefore  any  procrastination  in  the  work  will  be 
injurious  to  our  commerce,  as  I  believe  it  can  be  shown  that 
year  by  year  since  1840  the  obstruction  has  increased,  and 
unless  speedy  action  is  taken  it  will  result  in  the  total  de- 
struction of  our  harbor.  I  base  my  opinion  on  data  gained 
from  different  surveys,  made  from  the  year  1733  to  1869. 

On  the  survey  of  1733,  a  depth  of  21  feet  is  shown  in  the 
ship  channel  at  mean  low  water,  and  in  1869  only  5h  feet  can 
be  found  in  the  same  channel.  The  most  rapid  decrease  of 
water  on  the  bar  begins  from  1840,  after  the  United  States 
Government  had  put  down  jetties  for  the  protection  of  the 
shore  off  Fort  Caswell.     At  this  date  there  were  15  feet  of 


38 

water  on  each  of  the  three  bars.  You  will,  therefore,  readi- 
ly see  why  I  consider  delay  in  beginning  practical  operations 
detrimental  to  our  harbor,  and  would  suggest  to  your  honor- 
able body  that,  should  the  earnest  efforts  of  our  Senator  and 
Representative  fail  in  obtaining  the  necessary  means  to  be- 
gin the  work,  that  you  should  urge  on  the  State  Legislature 
to  make  an  appropriation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  this 
purpose,  with  a  view  to  have  it  refunded  by  the  General  Gov- 
ernment at  some  future  time. 

Certainly  this  harbor  is  of  too  much  importance,  not  only 
to  the  city  of  Wilmington  but  to  the  whole  State  of  North 
Carolina,  to  be  neglected.  We  have  now  most  of  our  rail 
roads  centering  and  terminating  in  this  place,  and  therefore 
the  closing  of  our  harbor  for  larger  vessels  would  put  us  at 
the  mercy  of  railroads,  and  no  outlet  could  be  had  for  our  pro- 
ducts but  by  the  ports  of  other  States.  This  condition  of  af- 
fairs of  course  would  be  a  great  loss  to  the  whole  State,  as 
our  producers  would  not  be  able  to  compete  with  those  of 
other  States,  for  the  simple  reason  that  we  could  not  ship 
our  goods  at  the  same  rates  as  merchants  of  more  favored 
localities,  where  vessels  can  land  and  take  merchandise  from 
their  wharves,  and  receive  the  same  without  paying  light- 
erage. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  inform  your  honorable  body  that  I 
have  the  assurance  of  the  heads  of  Bureaus,  as  well  as  of 
Congressmen  having  the  matter  in  charge,  that  the  claims 
of  Wilmington  will  not  be  forgotten,  and  that  the  plan  I  have 
suggested  will  be  adopted. 

Our  immediate  representatives  have  the  matter  in  hand, 
and  I  had  the  assurance  of  Senator  Abbott — just  before  leav- 
ing— that  all  of  the  Committee  having  the  matter  in  charge, 
were  in  favor  of  appropriating  the  amount  I  ask,  and  as  yet 
there  is  no  appropriation. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  remark  that,  with  the  assistance  of 
Mr.  Charles  I.  Grady,  the  editor  of  the  Post,  I  prepared  and 
had  presented  an  elaborate  argument,  "  Why  the  port  of 
Wilmington  should  have  a  part  of  the  money  so  lavishly  giv- 


39 

en  by  the  government  to  ports  in  the  Western  and  Eastern 
States."  This  argument  will  be  presented  by  General 
Abbott  in  the  Senate,  and  we  have  every  reason  to  believe 
will  be  effective. 

Kespectfullv  yours, 

ALEX.  STRAUSS. 
Makch  6th,  1870. 


RESOLUTIONS 
OF  THE  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN,  OF  THE  CITY  OF  WIL- 
MINGTON, NOVEMBER  28th,  1870. 

Whereas,  The  importance  of  farther  appropriation  by 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  the  improvement  of  the 
Cape  Fear  Bar  is  most  apparent,  in  view  of  the  present  un- 
finished condition  of  the  work,  and  the  great  benefits  daily 
developing  as  it  progresses. 

Resolved,  That  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  city  of  Wil- 
mington do  most  earnestly  urge  upon  Congress  the  claims  of 
this  work,  and  respectfully  request  the  Senators  and  Eepre- 
sentatives  in  Congress  from  this  State  to  bring  the  matter 
before  their  several  Houses,  and  solicit  liberal  appropriations 
to  this  truly  national  work. 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  sent 
to  each  member  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


RIVER  AND  BAR  IMPROVEMENTS. 


Major  Walter  Griswold,  of  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Corps,  who 
is  in  charge  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  and  Bar  Improvements, 
now  in  progress,  has  just  completed  a  detailed  report  of  his 
operations,  addressed  to  Col.  W.  P.  Craighill,  of  the  Engi- 
neer Corps,  and  through  him  to  be  forwarded  in  reply  tores- 


40 

olution  of  the  U.  S.  Senate,  recently  adopted,  asking  for  in- 
formation in  regard  to  the  progress  of  these  "works.  The 
report  is  elaborate  and  is  very  encouraging,  and  we  hope 
that  the  good  which  beyond  a  doubt  has  been  already  ac- 
complished, may  induce  the  Congress  to  vote  continued  ap- 
propriations to  the  work. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  were  ante  helium  residents  of  the 
city,  may  remember  that  there  was  once  a  little  sand  strip  on 
the  South  side  of  New  Inlet  bar,  and  opposite  Fort  Fisher, 
called  Zeke's  Island.  This  was  separated  on  the  South,  by 
a  shallow  inlet,  from  Smith's  Island,  which  is  a  long,  low 
tract,  running  down  the  Cape  Fear,  widening  as  it  goes. — 
Zeke's  Island  has  been  gradually  washed  away  by  Easterly 
winds  and  tides  until  but  little  of  it  now  remains  ;  and  it  is 
here,  from  along  the  Zeke's  Island  sand  bar,  across  the  shal- 
low inlet,  and  on  the  upper  part  of  Smith's  Island,  that  the 
great  injury  to  the  river  and  bar  has  been  done.  A  high 
Easterly  wind  drives  the  water  over  these  points,  and  it  car- 
ries with  it  as  it  goes  large  masses  of  sand,  which  fall  into 
the  sound  and  marshes  known  as  Buzzard's  Bay.  These  are 
affected  by  the  tidal  currents,  and  are  gradually  taken  up 
and  carried  down  the  channel,  some  of  them  being  deposited 
in  the  river,  and  others  stopping  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Kip,  on  Main  Bar,  opposite  Fort  Caswell. 

Having  carefully  ascertained  these  facts,  the  officers  in 
charge  knew  just  where  to  proceed— like  the  physician,  hav- 
ing made  a  careful  diagnosis  of  the  disease,  their  skill  and 
experience  at  once  suggested  the  remedy. 

The  object  of  their  labors  thus  far  has  been  to  build  a  line 
of  obstructions  from  a  point  on  Zeke's  Island  to  the  North, 
to  Smith's  Island  on  the  South,  of  sufficient  strength  and 
ability  to  successfully  resist  the  action  of  the  waves.  They 
know  that,  this  once  accomplished,  there  would  be  less  wash- 
ing of  the  sand  from  the  bay  into  the  river,  because  there 
could  be  no  tide  from  the  ocean,  at  that  point,  to  force  it 
away.  These  obstructions  are  not  yet  completed,  but  alrea- 
dy a  favorable  change  has  been  noted.  The  channel  at  New 
Inlet  has  been  improved,  and  the  pilots  report  a  gradual  in- 


41 

crease  of  water  on  the  Kip  at  Main  Bar,  all  of  which  can  be 
directly  traced  to  the  influence  of  the  obstructions. 

As  the  work  has  proceeded,  a  new  idea  has  been  developed 
to  Gen.  Simpson,  the  chief  officer,  which  is,  that  New  Inlet 
itself  may  be  successfully  obstructed,  and  the  channel  of  the 
river  and  the  Main  Bar  thus  become  washed  out  and  im- 
proved. By  obstructing  New  Inlet,  and  by  the  use  of  a  steam 
dredge,  it  is  felt  sure  that  our  bar  can  be  restored  to  its  ori- 
ginal depth,  and  that  the  largest  ships  can  be  floated  over  it 
safely.  In  the  meantime,  it  is  supposed  that  the  large  ex- 
panse of  water  known  as  Buzzard's  Bay  will  be  gradually  fill- 
ed up  by  sand  washing  down  from  the  banks  of  Smith's  Is- 
land, and  which  cannot  be  carried  into  the  channel  of  the 
river,  or  across  to  the  bar,  as  we  have  heretofore  explained, 
for  the  want  of  tidal  action. 

We  have  written  more  than  we  intended,  which  was  to 
merely  give  an  outline  of  the  facts  stated,  and  the  sugges- 
tions made  in  the  report  to  be  submitted  by  Maj.  Griswold. 
The  beneficial  effects  of  the  work,  even  thus  far,  are  already 
plain  and  unequivocal ;  and  if  such  is  the  case  now,  how 
much  greater  must  be  the  improvement  when  the  work  of 
closing  the  gap  between  Zeke's  and  Smith's  Island  is  com- 
pleted, to  say  nothing  of  the  total  regeneration  of  our  port, 
should  the  improvements  be  extended  to  the  entire  closing 
of  New  Inlet. 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  continuation  of  the 
work  are  plain  and  manifest,  and  money  is  all  that  is  needed 
to  carry  the  enterprise  through.  On  the  contrary,  should 
Congress  grant  no  further  aid,  and  the  work  be  therefore 
compelled  to  stop,  all  the  money  thus  far  expended  will  have 
proved  not  only  unavailing  but  an  absolute  waste,  and  "Wil- 
mington may  at  once,  for  at  least  a  century  to  come,  take  a 
back  seat  among  the  third  and  fourth  rate  towns. — Journal 
Editorial,  January  20,  1871. 


42 

COL.  CRAIGHILL'S  REPORT  TO  GEN7L  HUM- 
PHREYS, 


BALTIMORE,  JanY23d,  1871. 

GeneeaIp  :-— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  reference 
to  me  for  report,  of  the  Senate  resolution  of  January  13thr 
(received  20th,)  calling  for  information  as  to  the  progress  of 
the  work  of  improvement  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  in  North  Carolina. 

The  object  of  this  improvement  is  evident  from  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  the  report  of  a  commission  of  distinguished 
men,  who  elaborately  examined  and  discussed  the  subject  in 
1853: 

"  We  find  that  a  harbor  which  once  afforded  easy  access 
to  vessels  drawing  nineteen  feet  of  water,  will  now  only  ad- 
mit those  with  less  than  thirteen,  and  we  cannot  but  regard 
this  deterioration  as  a  great  national  misfortune,  and  the 
restoration  of  the  Inlet  to  its  original  state  as  a  work  de- 
manded by  the  general  interests  of  commerce,  both  in  peace 
and  war." 

The  importance  of  the  improvement  is  well  illustrated  by 
a  further  extract  from  the  report  already  referred  to  : 

"  Beaufort  Harbor,  ninety  miles  East  of  Cape  Fear,  is  the 
only  harbor  of  refuge  for  vessels  drawing  over  thirteen  feet 
between  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Charleston,  along 
a  coast  exposed  to  frequent  and  violent  Easterly  winds  and 
storms." 

An  inspection  of  any  general  map  of  the  coast  will  show 
the  importance  to  our  shipping  of  a  port  of  refuge,  a  place 
of  repairs  and  supplies  at  the  Cape  Fear,  which  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  head  or  more  retired  part  of  the  great  bend  in 
which  vessels  frequently  encounter  Easterly  or  Southeasterly 
storms,  and  where  annually  many  are  wrecked,  and  more 
still  dismasted  and  otherwise  crippled. 

The  immense  trade  carried  on  between  points  South  of 
the  Cape  Fear — New  Orleans,  Mobile,  Pensacola,  Key  West, 
Savannah,  and  Charleston,  and  the  Northern  cities,  Balti- 
-    >re7  Philadelphia,  New  York,,  Boston,  &c,  and  between  the 


43 

iornier  cities  and  Europe,  is  maintained  in  vessels  drawing 
about  fifteen  or  eighteen  feet  of  water,  and  the  larger  part  of 
it  passes  along  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  near  the  mouth 
■of  the  Cape  Fear.  Can  any  one  calculate  the  utility  of  this 
port  as  a  port  of  refuge  ? — a  place  of  escape  from  the  ele- 
ments and  the  enemy  ; — a  place  of  supply  and  repairs  when 
crippled,  for  vessels  of  that  class  in  time  of  war. 

Other  nations,  at  enormous  expense,  have  made  artificial 
harbors  on  coasts  not  badly  supplied  with  natural  ones. — 
Shall  not  we,  at  comparatively  small  expense,  restore  what 
nature  once  furnished  ?  Are  not  the  arguments  which  justi- 
fy and  require  the  erection  of  lighthouses  applicable  to  this 
improvement  ? 

In  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion,  Wilmington  was  among 
the  last  places  of  importance  on  the  Atlantic  to  succumb  to 
the  power  of  the  United  States  ;  and  the  entrance  to  the 
Cape  Fear  Kiver  was  guarded  with  the  utmost  vigor  and  te- 
nacity. Its  great  value  in  time  of  war,  to  those  holding  it, 
was  fully  manifested. 

In  past  years,  considerable  sums  have  been  spent  by  the 
State  and  by  the  United  States  in  the  improvement  of  the 
navigation  cf  the  river  above  its  mouth.  At  present  the 
depth  of  water  which  can  ba  carried  from  the  ocean  into  the 
river  is  considerably  less  than  what  is  available  in  the  river 
after  the  entrance  is  made.  All  efforts  at  improvement 
should  therefore  be  directed  to  the  bars  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river. 

There  are  two  entrances  to  the  Cape  Fear.  What  may  be 
called  the  old  mouth  is  between  Bald  Head  and  Oak  Island, 
in  wid.th  about  one  mile  and  three-eighths.  In  this  opening 
there  are  two  channels — the  Eastern,  which  hugs  the  bend  of 
Bald  Head,  and  the  Western,  which  bends  along  the  land  of 
Oak  Island.  The  ether  entrance  is  called  New  Inlet,  although 
it  has  been  open  since  about  1780,  or  nearly  a  century.  It  is 
distant  about  seven  miles  from  Bald  Head,  and  is  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  width,  between  Federal  Point  and 
Zeke's  Island.  Just  to  the  South  of  Xew  Inlet  are  found 
several  openings  through  Zeke's  Island,  which  are  not  naviga- 


44 

ble,  although  they,  like  New  Inlet,  are  the  channels  through 
which  passes  much  of  the  water  that  would,  if  they  did  not 
exist,  flow  through  the  main  entrance  of  the  river. 

The  bars  at  the  Old  Inlet  have  shoaled  greatly  since  the 
opening  of  the  New  Inlet,  which  diminishes  by  a  vast  amount 
the  volume  of  water  which  otherwise  would,  and  formerly 
did,  pass  in  and  out  at  the  main  entrance  during  every  tide. 
Another  cause  of  shoaling  of  the  bars  at  the  main  entrance 
has  been  the  wearing  away  of  a  portion  of  Smith's  Island, 
especially  at  Bald  Head,  and  a  consequent  deposition  on  the 
already  existing  shoals  forming  the  bars. 

The  plan  of  improvement  has  been  first  to  check  this  wear- 
ing away  of  Smith's  Island,  and  the  consequent  deposition 
on  the  bars,  by  the  construction  of  suitable  works  for  the 
protection  of  the  shore  of  the  Island,  which  was  successfully 
accomplished  about  fifteen  years  ago.  The  next  step  was  to 
attempt  to  restore,  to  some  extent,  the  old  condition  of  things 
in  the  river,  by  closing  the  openings  through  Zeke's  Island. 
This  was  successfully  done  in  1856,  and  a  beach  had  formed 
in  front  of  the  works,  closing  them.  In  1857,  the  Southern 
coast  was  visited  by  the  most  severe  storm  of  which  there  is 
any  record  in  that  country.  The  works  last  referred  to  were 
unable  to  resist  its  violence,  and  were  greatly  injured.  With 
reference  to  this  matter,  the  following  is  the  opinion  of  the 
commission  of  1858.  composed  of  some  of  the  ablest  men  in 
the  country  : 

"  Had  the  whole  amount  of  money  estimated  as  the  cost  of 
this  work  been  appropriated,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
works  would  have  been  made  strong  enough  to  resist  even 
this  storm." 

This  is  a  very  important  statement,  and  deserving  the  most 
careful  consideration  at  this  time. 

At  the  last  session  of  Congress,  an  appropriation  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  was  made  for  the  Cape  Fear  Riv- 
er. The  renewal  and  strengthening  of  the  work  at  Zeke's 
Island  was  immediately  undertaken  in  the  most  energetic 
manner.  About  $60,000  have  been  expended  up  to  this  time, 
leaving  $40,000  for  carrying  on  the  work  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  current  fiscal  year.    More  than  twice  that  sum 


45 

could  be  expended  before  July  1st,  "with  the  greatest  advan- 
tage, if  available.  The  accumulation  of  sand  follows  the 
•work  as  it  is  carried  onward  from  the  point  of  beginning, 
and  an  improvement  in  the  depth  of  water  in  the  channel  is 
reported  by  those  navigating  it. 

My  predecessor,  Col.  J.  H.  Simpson,  Corps  of  Engineers, 
estimated  that  the  construction  of  this  breakwater  at  Zeke's 
Island  would  require  $157,000  in  addition  to  the  $100,000 
already  appropriated,  and  asked  only  two-thirds  of  this 
amount  for  the  next  fiscal  year.  His  arrangements  for  con- 
ducting the  work  were  so  good,  and  its  progress  and  its  re- 
sults have  been  so  satisfactory,  that  it  is  highly  expedient, 
in  my  judgment,  to  appropriate  at  once,  and  make  available 
for  immediate  expenditure,  the  total  balance  of  $157,000  ; 
and  I  earnestly  recommend  that  the  adoption  of  that  view 
be  urged  upon  Congress. 

The  appliances  for  carrying  on  the  work,  in  the  way  of  an 
organized  force,  means  of  transportation,  quarters,  a  steady 
supply  of  excellent  materials  at  fair  rates,  <fcc,  are  now  very 
good.  To  get  the  best  results,  this  machine  of  many  parts 
should  be  worked  continuously  up  to  its  best  time.  For  this 
purpose,  a  liberal  and  immediate  appropriation  is  essential. 
A  failure  to  appropriate  any  money  for  the  next  fiscal  year 
would  be  as  poor  a  piece  of  policy  as  that  of  an  individual 
who  would  half  finish  his  dwelling  house,  and  then  leave  it 
exposed  to  injury  and  ruin  from  ravages  of  the  elements. 

The  following  is  an  important  statement,  which  is  taken 
from  the  report  of  the  commission  of  1858  : 

"  The  works  recommended  by  the  board  of  1853,  were,  in 
the  opinion  of  the  commission,  entirely  efficient,  so  far  as 
they  were  carried  out,  having,  as  is  shown  by  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey maps,  caused  an  increase  in  the  depth  of  the  Oak  Island 
channel  of  between  one  and  two  feet." 

It  is  likely  that  this  good  effect,  produced  in  one  year, 
would  have  been  much  increased,  had  the  works  remained. 
The  fact  that  immediately  after  the  destruction  of  the  Zeke's 
Island  works  the  Oak  Island  channel  began  to  shoal,  is  con- 
clusive, taken  in  connection  with  its  previous  deepening,  that 
the  latter  effect  was  produced  by  the  Zeke's  Island  works, 


46 

The  commission  of  1858  recommended,  as  the  next  step  in 
the  improvement,  the  protection  of  the  Northern  portion  of 
Smith's  Island,  where  it  is  low  and  narrow.  They  were  of 
the  opinion  that  when  the  openings  at  Zeke's  Island  were 
closed,  (the  work  now  in  progress,)  and  the  outer  beach  of 
Smith's  Island  thoroughly  protected,  the  depth  on  the  main 
entrance  would  be  found  to  increase  materially.  They  fur- 
ther recommend  that  the  main  entrance  should  be  carefully 
watched,  and  if  its  depth,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years, 
should  not  increase  so  as  to  permit  the  passage  of  vessels 
drawing  the  amount  of  water  which  can  be  carried  up  to  Wil- 
mington in  the  river,  the  closing  of  New  Inlet  should  be  un- 
dertaken. 

The  closing  of  New  Inlet  has  been  opposed  by  some  per- 
sons. They  say  that  its  bar  is  as  good  as  that  of  the  old 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  the  entrance  easier  during  certain 
winds  ;  that  for  the  greater  number  of  vessels  trading  to  and 
from  Wilmington  the  New  Inlet  is  much  the  shortest  en- 
trance, and  the  safest,  because  avoiding  the  danger  of  the 
Prying  Pan  Shoals. 

Some  persons  also  have  advocated  dredging  in  one  or  the 
other  of  the  channels.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  commission 
of  1853,  that  there  was  rock  underlying  the  bar  of  New  In- 
let, which  would  make  its  improvement  by  dredging  proba- 
bly impracticable  to  any  great  extent,  especially  as  its  posi- 
tion is  very  much  exposed.  Other  persons  have  proposed 
the  diversion  of  the  river  from  the  old  channel  to  the  New 
Inlet,  and  the  concentration  upon  the  New  Inlet  of  all  efforts 
for  the  improvement  of  the  entrance.  • 

The  great  cost  of  these  operations  leads  to  their  rejection, 
even  if  we  leave  out  of  consideration  the  improbability  of 
success  in  an  effort  to  obtain  as  great  a  depth  in  the  New 
Inlet  as  is  known  to  have  already  existed  in  former  times  in 
the  Old  Inlet.  The  time  has  not  yet  arrived  for  deciding 
definitely  as  to  the  propriety  or  necessity  of  closing  New  In- 
let, or  of  any  advantage  to  be  gained  by  dredging  in  either 
channel  of  the  Old  Inlet. 

The  work  now  in  progress  at  Zeke's  Island  is  an  impor- 


47 

tant,  a  necessary,  preliminary  to  gaining  greater  depth  of 
water  by  either  Inlet,  and  should  be  vigorously  prosecuted, 
in  advance  of  a  determination  of  the  question  of  closing  or 
leaving  open  New  Inlet,  and  the  other  question  of  resort  to 
dredging  to  induce  a  more  speedy  return  to  the  original  con- 
dition of  affairs  at  the  Old  Inlet. 

I  transmit  an  interesting  report  from  the  local  Assistant- 
Engineer.  I  made  an  examination  of  the  work  January  20th, 
as  well  as  of  Bald  Head  and  other  points  in  the  river.  Its 
progress  has  been  all  that  could  haA7e  been  expected,  and  the 
effects  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  which  are  visible  to  the  eyef 
are  certainly  extraordinary. 

The  reported  changes  on  the  bars  might  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected, and  are  very  encouraging.  The  results  of  the  work 
now  in  progress  are  sufficient  evidence  of  the  importance  of 
carrying  out  the  present  plan.  I  have  directed  a  careful 
daily  watch  to  be  kept  of  the  action  of  the  sea  upon  the  ex- 
posed portions  of  Smith's  Island,  and  the  shore  lines  will  be 
run  once  a  month. 

The  immediate  appropriation  of  $157,000  for  this  work  is 
urgently  recommended. 

Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

(Signed)  WM.  P.  CRAIGHILL, 

Maj.  Engineers, 
Brig.  Gen'l  A.  A.  Humphreys, 

Chief  of  Engineers  U.  S.  A.,  Washington,  D.  C. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  6th  March,  1872. 
To  Dr.   W.   W.  Harriss, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  f 
Sir  : — Availing  myself  of  an  invitation  from  Maj.  Griswold 
to  visit  the  public  works  under  his  charge  at  New  Inlet,  for' 
the  improvement  of  Cape  Fear  Bar  and  Harbor,  I  accom- 
panied him  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Benton,  down  the  river 
to-day. 


45 

The  weather  being  suitable,  we  had  a  fine  opportunity  of 
surveying  the  situation,  both  during  the  ebb  and  flood  tides* 
Presuming  it  would  interest  you  and  the  Chamber  to  know 
of  the  situation  and  progress  of  the  work,  I  [beg  leave  to 
report  my  observations. 

At  the  commencement,  the  line  of  stone  work  put  down 
Some  years  since  between  Zeke's  Island  and|the  belt  of 
beach  connecting  with  Smith's  Island,  is  distinctly  traceable 
at  low  tide,  running  in  a  line  northwest  and  southeast,  The 
task  of  renewing  this  work  and  preparing  it  to  resist  storm 
and  flood  is  comparatively  trifling.  At  the  northern  end  of 
this  line  of  stone  work  a  breach  has  been  made  about  six 
hundred  feet  wide  and  about  ten  feet  depth  of  water  in  the 
deepest  part  of  it,  wealing  away  a  considerable  portion  of 
Zeke's  Island.  Around  the  southern  end  of  this  old  stone 
work,  being  in  the  bend  or  angle  formed  by  these  works 
and  the  line  of  beach,  another  and  most  formidable  passage 
was  made,  about  or  near  six  hundred  feet  wide  and  thirty- 
seven  feet  deep.  To  westward  and  southward  from  this 
point  stretches  out  an  immense  sheet  of  water,  known  as 
Buzzard's  Bay,  the  water  of  which  being  acted  upon  by  the 
downward  course  of  the  river  water  on  the  western  shore, 
produces  a  most  voilent  counter  current  through  this  passage 
to  the  ocean  level,  hence  the  great  depth  of  water  it  has 
attained.  The  Engineer  in  charge  has  not  been  slow  in 
perceiving  the  formidable  character  of  this  enemy  or  the 
importance  of  closing  these  passages  to  Zeke's  Island, 
thereby  forcing  this  vast  volume  of  water  through  its  natural 
outlet  at  the  mouth  of  the  river ;  neither  has  he  been  slow  in 
his  operations.  He  very  wisely  determined  to  commence 
operations  upon  the  northern  point  of  the  beach  by  sinking 
cribs  of  heavy  timber,  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  filled  with  stone, 
across  the  inlet,  in  line  with  the  old  works.  About  four 
hundred  and  seventy  lineal  feet  of  cribs  have  been  placed  in 
position,  three  hundred  and  eighty  feet  of  which  has  been 
covered  with  the  finishing  superstructure,  while  ninety  feet 
are  now  ready  to  recieve  the  same.  Two  more  cribs  are 
now  ready  to  be  placed  in  position  during  this  week. 


49' 

Thus  far  the  work  has  been  attended  with  eminent  success  \ 
the  agitation  of  the  water  in  its  obstruction  has  had  the 
effect  of  depositing  the  sand  against  the  works  as  far  and  as 
fast  as  finished,  almost  to  the  top  of  the  superstructure, 
where  thirty-seven  feet  of  water  existed  but  a  few  days  since. 
I  also  find  sand  shoals,  some  of  them  bare  at  low  tide, 
forming  in  all  directions,  inside  and  out,  where  ten  to  twenty 
feet  of  water  existed  but  a  short  time  ago.  The  ocean  line 
of  beach,  far  away  to  the  southward,  is  rapidly  widening  and 
filling.  Nor  is  this  all.  I  am  imformed  that  since  the  com- 
mencement of  this  work  a  considerable  change  has  been 
effected  in  the  current  and  channels  of  the  bars  and  river, 
and  that  the  Kip  near  Fort  Caswell  is  preceptibly  wearing 
away.  Thus  far  the  work  appears  a  flattering  success,  much 
of  which  may  be  attributed  to  the  practical  good  sense 
and  judicious  management  of  the  Engineer  in  charge,  and 
of  the  prompt,  energetic  co-operation  of  Mr.  Cunningham, 
Superintendent  of  the  work.  In  such  hands  I  feel  every 
confidence  in  the  final  and  complete  realization  of  our  an- 
ticipation, provided  they  are  properly  sustained  by  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States.  This  accomplishment  will 
cheer  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  merchants  and  traders  of 
the  city  of  Wilmington,  as  well  as  the  citizens  of  the  State 
at  large,  by  restoring  to  the  State  her  long  lost  harbor,  one 
inferior  to  none  upon  the  Southern  Atlantic  coast,  and 
altogether  worthy  of  her,  and  by  fcae  establishment  of  an 
emporium  within  her  own  borders  which  will  emancipate 
her  from  the  commercial  vassalage  to  neighboring  States, 
under  which  she  has  groaned  for  ninety  long  years. 

Closing  the  old  or  principal  inlet,  I  regard  as  of  minor 
importance  comparatively.  Nature  seems  disposed  to  close 
it  anyhow,  but  it  requires  some  effort  on  our  pai£  to  assist  her. 
I  am  of  opinion  that  it  may  be  closed  in  less  time  and  with 
less  cost  than  is  generally  supposed. 

The  Major  informs  me  that  he  contemplates  some  experi- 
ments looking  to  the  collection  of  drift  sand  upon  the  low  flat 
beach  to  the  south,  and  if  successful, and  he  shall  be  authorized 
to  do  so,  will  inaugurate  a  system  of  cultivating  grass  shrub- 


so 

feery  and  trees  upon  the  beach,  with  the  view  of  holding  the- 
sand  and  strengthening  the  beach  against  incursions  of  wind 
or  water. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  30th  March^  1871^ 

To  Wm,  W.  Haebiss,  Esq., 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  r 

Sir  :— Your  Committee  beg  leave  to  submit  herewith  & 
correspondence  held  with  Major  Walter  Ckiswoldj  Engineer, 
in  charge  of  the  Bar  and  River  Improvements,  touching  the' 
present  situation  and  future  prospects  of  the  same. 

From  this  correspondence  will  be  seen  the  critical  position* 
these  improvements  have  been  placed  in,  by  the  insufficiency 
of  the  last  appropriation  made  by  the  Forty-first  Congress 
of  the  United  States. 

The  estimate  submitted  to  the  Department  by  the  Engineer 
in  charge  of  the  works  required  an  appropriation  of 
$153,315  66  to  complete  the  work  to  Zeke's  Island  only, 
without  making  any  provision  for  strengthening  or  securing 
the  Island.  The  appropriation  for  this  purpose  was  $75,000. 
This  sum  will  probably  be  sufficient  to  conduct  the  work 
only  to  the  small  inlet  nest  south  of  Zeke's  Island,  or  a 
short  distance  into,  but  certainly  not  across  it,  when  the 
work  must  stop,  and  wait  another  appropriation  of  the 
Congress  which  convenes  m  December  next*  and  which, 
if  then  made,  will  not  be  available  until  July  following.  The 
consequence  of  this  delay  will  be,  first,  that  if  the  work  is 
suspended  the  tug-boat,  lighters,  tools  and  materials  and 
property  of  the  improvements  must  be  sold  for  what  they 
will  bring,  which  will  not  probably  exceed  one-tenth  of  their 
original  cost. 

Second.  A  well  organized  set  of  experienced  operators 
must  be  disbanded. 


51 

Third.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  if  the  work  has  to 
rest  where  the  present  appropriation  leaves  it,  that  the  same 
cause  which  produced  the  terrible  inlet  which  has  just  been 
successfully  closed  at  "the  expense  ef  much  trouble  and 
money  will  be  repeated  upon  Zeke's  Island,  and  the  un- 
finished inlet,  as  well  as  upon  the  main  inlet,  thereby  greatly 
enhancing  the  cost  and  time  ef  a  final  completion  of  the 
work,  if  not  postponing  it  indefinitely.  Under  these  circum- 
stances your  committee  feel  that  they  cannot  too  strongly 
urge  upon  the  Chamber  the  necessity  of  prompt  and  energetic 
action  in  the  premises,  proving  what  we  feel  able  to  do,  the 
absolute  necessity  and  true  economy  to  the  Government  of 
enlarging  this  appropriation  to  a  sum  sufficient  not  only  to 
reach  Zeke's  Island,  but  to  protect  and  secure  it  against 
further  destruction. 

If  the  Government  or  the  officers  who  have  the  charge 
and  control  of  such  matters  can  be  made  to  understand  the 
true  nature  and  character  of  the  situation,  surely  they  will 
not  hesitate  to  do  what  is  so  palpably  necessary  for  advancing 
the  best  interests  of  Government,  as  well  as  the  country  at 
large. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

HENRY  NUTT,  )  Com- 

JOHN  WILDER  ATKINSON,  V  m  i  t  - 
JAS.  H.  CHADBOURN,  tee. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  March  18th,  1871. 
Maj".  Walter  Griswolb, 

Dear  Sir  : — May  I  take  the  liberty  of  troubling  you  for 
some  information  relative  to  the  public  works  under  your 
charge  for  the  improvement  of  Cape  Fear  Bar  and  Harbor  ? 

I  have  been  informed  that  you  submitted  to  Congress  es- 
timates for  the  completion  of  the  work  to  Zeke's  Island,  at 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars,  which  was 
answered  by  an  appropriation  of  seventy-five  thousand  dol- 
lars.   Please  inform  me,  at  your  early  convenience,  about 


K9 


how  far  that  appropriation  will  complete  the  work,  and  about 
how  much  time  will  be  required  in  consuming  it,  with  your 
present  force.  "What  will  be  the  probable  effect  or  result  of 
suspending  operations  before  its  completion  to  Zeke's  Island? 

What  would  be  the  probable  effect  of  a  severe  Northeast 
gale,  say  in  September,  upon  the  unfinished  work  ? 

Are  you  now  working  as  large  a  force  as  can  be  judicious- 
ly employed? 

Can  the  force  be  increased  to  an  extent  (within  a  judicious 
management)  sufficient  to  complete  the  work  to  Zeke's  Island 
before  the  period  of  the  usual  equinoctial  storm  ;  and  if  so, 
will  the  estimate  first  called  for  enable  you  to  accomplish  it  ? 

I  desire  this  information  for  the  use  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  that  it  may  institute  such  proceedings  in  the 
premises  as  may  be  deemed  most  efficient,  for  securing  a 
completion  of  the  work  without  delay,  thereby  securing  the 
benefit  of  the  generous  appropriation  of  Congress,  and  pre- 
venting, as  far  as  in  their  power,  the  wasting  of  this  as  of 
former  appropriations. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


Office  of  the  Cape  Fear  Eivek  Improvements, 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  March  20,  1871. 
Henry  Nutt,  Esq.,  Chairman,  &c: 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  the  honor  of  your  letter  of  the  18th 
inst.,  propounding  several  questions,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  reply  : 

1st. — I  submitted  an  estimate  last  September  for  the  com- 
mencement and  completion  of  a  crib  and  superstructure 
work,  from  the  head  of  Smith's  to  Zeke's  Island,  which  esti- 
mate was  transmitted  to  Brig.  Gen'l  J..  H.  Simpson,  U.  S.  A., 
and  by  him  to  the  Engineer's  Department  at  "Washington, 
amounting  to  $253,315  66  ;— $100,000  had  already  been  ap- 
propriated, leaving  $153,315  66  yet  to  be  obtained  to  com- 


plete   the  Work  to   Zeke's   Island,   without    providing  for 
strengthening  the  same. 

2d. — I  think  now,  after  having  waded  all  winter  in  a  diffi- 
cult place,  that  we  can  accomplish  the  building  of  five  hun- 
dred feet  (lineal)  more  with  the  means  at  hand,  and  by  the 
30th  of  June  next,  at  which  time  all  the  funds  available  will 
be  expended. 

3d. — To  suspend  this  work  before  its  final  completion,  will 
necessitate  the  sale  of  all  the  boats,  pile  driver,  tools,  timber 
and  iron,  and  the  dispersing  of  a  lot  of  experienced  good 
men.  As  there  is  no  demand  for  either  boats  or  such  mate- 
rial and  tools  as  would  be  on  hand,  I  apprehend  I  could  not 
realize  one-tenth  of  their  original  cost — comparatively 
nothing. 

4th. — My  work  is  always  secured  so  that  a  Northeaster  at 
any  time  will  not  seriously  affect  either  the  finished  or  unfin- 
ished portion. 

5th. — My  total  force  at  present  consists  of  about  forty-five 
men.    I  can  work  ninety  judiciously. 

6th. — With  a  force  of  ninety  men,  I  can  expend  about 
$20,000  per  month.  A  larger  force  cannot  be  employed  ad- 
vantageously on  a  work  so  confined. 

It  therefore  will  consume  over  seven  months  to  expend  the 
amount  to  complete  the  work  to  Zeke's  Island,  thereby  clo- 
sing operations  about  the  middle  of  February,  1872 — count- 
ing from  the  first  of  July  next. 

I  believe  I  have  answered  all  the  points  in  your  letter,  and 
I  hope  satisfactorily.  You  will  please  do  me  the  honor  to 
call  upon  me  for  any  information  pertaining  to  the  Cape  Fear 
Eiver  Improvements,  which  may  be  of  avail  to  your  Board  in 
facilitating  its  progress  and  final  completion. 

I  am,  sir,  with  much  respect,  your  ob't  serv't, 

WALTER  GRISWOLD, 

Z7.  S.  Ass't  Engineer. 

P.  S.  I  have  no  official  notification  of  $75,000  being  ap- 
propriated by  the  XLI  Congress  for  this  work. 

WALTER  GRISWOLD. 


54 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  24th  March,  1871. 
Major  Walter  Griswold, 

SupH  Co.pe  Fear  River  Improvements,  Wilmington,  N.  C: 

My  Dear  Sir  : — Permit  me  to  thank  you  for  myself  and 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  for  your  answer  of  the  20th  inst., 
to  my  letter  of  inquiry  of  the  18th  inst. 

One  important  question,  however,  was  not  perhaps  suffi- 
ciently explicit  to  be  fully  understood  by  you,  I  therefore 
repeat, 

Should  the  money  in  hand,  with  the  last  reported  appro- 
priation of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  be  sufficient  to  car- 
ry you  no  further  than  the  small  inlet,  between  the  line  of 
old  works  and  Zeke's  Island,  or  partly  across  it,  what  would 
be  the  probable  effect  upon  that  Inlet  and  upon  Zeke's  Is- 
land, or  even  upon  the  large  or  principal  Inlet,  by  suspend- 
ing the  work  at  the  point  first  named  ? 

Is  it  likely  that  the  rush  of  water  into  and  out  of  "  Buz- 
zard's Bay"  would  be  sufficient  to  rapidly  deepen  the  above 
named  Inlets,  and  destroy  Zeke's  Island,  thereby  greatly  en- 
hancing the  labor  and  expense  of  a  final  completion  of  the 
work? 

If  consistent  with  your  position,  I  should  be  pleased  to 
have  an  expression  of  your  opinion  upon  the  points  above 
mentioned. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


OFFICE  CAPE  FEAR  RIVEE  IMPROVEMENTS, 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  25th  March,  1871. 
Henry  Nutt,  Esq.,  Chairman,  &c: 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  communication  of  the  24th  (yesterday) 
I  have  received,  to  which  I  unqualifiedly  reply,  that  should 
the  present  improvements  between  Smith's  and  Zeke's  Islands 
be  abandoned,  after  reaching  a  point  between  the  points  of 
rocks  of  the  old  work  and  Zeke's  Island,  that  the  flood  tide 
will  sweep  around  the  end  of  it  and  deepen  a  channel  at  that 


55 

point,  and  eventually  sweep  away  Zeke's  Island.  No  fear 
need  be  entertained  that  the  waters  from  "  Buzzard's  Bay" 
will  injuriously  affect  either  Zeke's  Island  or  open  a  very 
deep  channel  intervening  between  that  and  the  end  of  the 
works,  simply  for  the  reason  that  there  will  not  be  sufficient 
ebb  at  that  point ;  and  from  the  fact  that  Zeke's  Island  and 
the  channel  spoken  of  is  so  near  the  main  channel  of  the  riv- 
er that  an  attempted  ebb,  past  the  end  of  the  works  com- 
pleted, will  be  forced  to  assume  the  direction  of  the  main 
channel.  What  now  causes  the  ebb  through  the  thirty-seven 
foot  hole,  was  an  eddy  of  the  ebb  tide  from  the  river,  which 
was  unable  to  pass  out  the  New  Inlet  on  account  of  the  short 
turn  or  acuteness  with  which  it  was  obliged  to  make  to  go- 
through  the  channel  of  the  Inlet,  and  took  a  large  circle  into 
Buzzard's  Bay,  and  returning  at  the  point  named.  It  will 
therefore  be  seen  that  for  the  waters  to  ebb  at  the  channel 
between  Zeke's  Island  and  the  point  of  rocks,  it  will  have  to 
assume  a  very  acute  angle,  which  is  rather  against  the  na- 
ture of  water  in  the  present  premises.  You  may  ask  if  this 
same  eddy,  which  formed  around  Buzzard's  Bay,  would  not 
still  assume  that  route,  and  come  against  the  works,  and  fol- 
low it  to  its  end.  It  could  be  answered  at  once,  that  the 
present  work  is  an  obstruction,  and  water  will  not  make 
against  obstructions,  especially  where  it  is  only  trying  to  find 
its  own  level,  as  in  the  case  of  tides.  There  will,  however,, 
be  an  ebb  current  past  the  end  of  a  work  completed  to  the 
point  named,  but  very  slight. 

My  apprehension  of  the  flood  injuring  Zeke's  Island,  and 
opening  a  deep  channel,  is  based  as  much  upon  the  fact  of 
observing  its  rapid  transit  through  the  thirty-seven  foot  hole 
as  from  the  fact  that  it  must  assist  in  filling  the  Bay,  which, 
owing  to  its  extent,  would  require  larger  inlets  at  Caswell 
and  Bald  Head,  as  they  at  present  exist,  to  supply  water 
sufficient  to  cover  that  immense  territory  within  the  time  al- 
lowed between  the  tides. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

WALTER  GRISWOLD, 

Assistant  Engineer, 


56 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  7th  Apeil,  1871. 
Db.  W.  W.  Harriss, 

President  Chamber  of  Commerce: 

Dear  Sir  : — Having  made  another  visit  yesterday  to  the 
bar  and  river  improvements,  in  company  with  Major  Gris- 
wold,  the  Engineer  in  charge,  it  affords  me  much  pleasure 
to  communicate  to  the  Chamber  the  favorable  progress  of 
the  work  since  my  visit  on  the  6th  of  March,  just  one  month 
ago.     In  that   short  period  of   time   four  cribs  have  been 
placed  in  position  and  filled  with   stone,  nearly  closing  up 
the  deep  inlet,  requiring  but  one  more  crib  to  accomplish 
the  same.     The  Superintendent  is  now  engaged  in  placing 
the  superstructure  cribs  upon  the  foundation  cribs,  filling 
and  leveling  up  with  stone  above  the  high  water  mark,  about 
thirty  feet  of  which  is  already  complete,   and  the  work  of 
placing  the  superstructure  and  finishing  the  work  as  far  as 
the  foundation    cribs  have  been  placed,  is  being  rapidly- 
prosecuted.     It  is   most  gratifying  to   observe  with   what 
facility  this  great  and  important  work  is  aided  by  nature  in 
bringing  up  to  its  assistance  the  requisite  amount  of  sand 
necessary  for  forming  the  beach  as  rapidly  as  the  current 
of  water  is  shut  out  by  the  finished  work.     A  new  beach 
seems  to  have  formed  outside  of  the  old  line  of  flat  narrow 
shore,  which  stretches   southward  toward  Bald  Head,  and 
which  is  already  up  to  high  water  mark  and  about  eighty 
feet  wide.    Shoals   are  forming   all   along   outside  of  the 
works,  many  of  them  dry  at  half  tide.    Nature  seems  anxious 
to  accomplish   this  work  for  us,  bat  true  to  her  own  laws, 
requires  us  first  to  put  our  own  shoulders  to  the  wheel.     It 
is  very  much  to   be  regretted  that  the  appropropriation 
made  by  Congress  is  inadequate  for  pushing  on  the  work 
more  rapidly,   owing  to  which  the  expenditures  have  been 
curtailed  and  the  number  of  workmen  very  much  reduced. 
Considering  the  small  force  now  engaged  the  work  is  pro- 
gressing with  astonishing  rapidity,  and  I  congratulate  the 
Chamber  upon  the  very  satisfactory  results  thus  far. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  H.   NUTT. 


57 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  Mat  10th,  1871. 
De.  W.  W.  Haeeiss, 

President   Chamber  of  Commerce: 

Deae  Sie  : — I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  of  a 
visit  yesterday  to  the  pu  iic  works  for  the  improvement  of 
Cape  Fear  Bar,  in  company  with  Major  Walter  Griswold, 
resident  Engineer  in  charge. 

I  find  the  work  steadily  progressing,  although  not  as 
rapidly  as  I  could  hope  to  see  it,  the  force  employed  being 
reduced  to  meet  the  small  amount  of  money  at  command  to 
carry  on  the  work. 

The  last  crib  required  for  closing  the  deep  inlet  has  been 
placed  in  position  and  filled  with  stone,  so  that  this  inlet 
may  be  said  to  be  closed. 

The  superstructure  is  being  put  on,  and  as  soon  as  it  is 
finished  and  the  water  shut  out,  the  sand  will  come  up  and 
form  the  beach,  as  it  has  heretofore  done,  as  rapidly  as  the 
work  has  been  finished.  I  am  pleased  to  say  that  the  outer 
line  of  new  beach,  alluded  to  in  my  last  report,  continues  to 
grow,  and  also,  at  the  point  of  the  beach  and  thence  in  the 
direction  of  the  finished  WGrk,  I  find  a  very  material  change 
in  the  bar  and  channel  of  the  new  inlet ;  whereas  it  formerly 
passed  out  below  Zeke's  Island  and  diagonally  across  the 
inlet  to  the  outer  shore  of  Federal  Point,  thence  some 
distance  up  the  beach  before  crossing  the  bar,  the  channel 
now  passes  directly  from  the  river  in  a  straight  eastwardly 
course,  near  the  Federal  Point  shore,  into  the  ocean,  with 
an  increased  draft  of  water. 

Whether  this  change  results  from  the  closing  of  Deep 
Inlet  or  from  other  and  natural  causes,  I  am  unable  to  say  ; 
I  can  only  state  the  fact,  strange  as  it  may  appear. 

It  was  our  wish  and  intention  to  make  soundings  of  the 
Kip  of  the  main  outlet,  near  Fort  Caswell,  but  the  weather 
and  tide  were  unsuited,  and  I  am  unable  to  make  any  report 
at  this  time  upon  that  subject,  but  hope  to  be  able  to  do  so 
in  my  nest  monthly  report. 

The  experiments  for  cnV'icting  sand  upon  the  low,  flat 
beach,  by  means  of  brush,  has  proven  partially  successful, 


58 

collecting  the  sand  only  one  to  two  feet  in  height.  Some 
change  in  the  plan,  I  believe,  is  contemplated,  which  it  is 
expected  will  collect  the  sand  more  rapidly. 

I  see  nothing  discouraging  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work. 

It  is  rarely  the  case  that  so  important  and  difficult  a  work 
has  been  prosecuted  with  such  signal  success,  for,  although 
the  weather  was  very  unfavorable  during  the  Winter  and 
Spring,  delaying  the  work  somewhat,  no  mistake,  error  or 
serious  disaster  has  occurred  that  I  can  hear  of.  May  w© 
not  hope  that  this  is  but  a  foreshadowing  of  the  final  result. 

Kespectfully  and  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


THE    BAR   IMPROVEMENTS, 


The  editor,  by  invitation,  visited  the  works  at  New  Inlet 
on  the  8th  inst.,  in  company  with  Mr.  Nutt,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  on  this  improve- 
ment, and  in  publishing  his  report  we  desire  to  unite  with 
him  in  congratulating  that  body  upon  the  successful  progress 
of  the  work.  We  were  as  much  astonished  as  gratified  to 
see  how  much  had  been  accomplished  in  so  short  a  time  and 
with  insufficient  means. 

From  the  extreme  northern  point  of  Smith's  Island  the 
work  has  been  completed  upwards  of  six  hundred  feet, 
northwestwardly,  towards  Zeke's  Island,  following  the  line 
of  the  old  works.  Deep  Inlet,  over  five  hundred  feet  in 
width,  and  ranging  from  ten  to  forty  feet  in  depth,  through 
which  an  immense  volume  of  water  rushed,  at  the  rate  of 
eight  or  ten  miles  an  hour,  has  been  compfetely  and  securely 
stopped.  The  northern  end  of  the  unfinished  work 
rests  temporarily  upon  a  portion  of  the  old  stone  work, 
which  has,  in  one  or  two  places,  withstood  storms  and  tides 


59 

for  twenty  years.  The  sealing  of  this  inlet  is,  beyond  doubt, 
the  most  formidable  difficulty  to  be  overcome  before  reaching 
Zeke's  Island.  There  are  three  other  inlets  between  the 
work  and  Zeke's  Island,  but  none  of  them  are  more  than  ten 
feet  deep.  Unless  some  trouble  is  met  with  in  finding  a 
good  foundation  in  the  inlet  nearest  Zeke's  Island,  which, 
though  wide,  is  quite  shallow,  the  completion  of  the  work  to 
that  island  will  be  comparatively  easy  and  rapid. 

The  most  gratifying  feature  connected  with  the  progress  of 
the  work  is  that  the  sand  follows  close  upon  the  workmen,  and 
secures  their  laborsby  imbedding  the  superstructure  in  front 
two-thirds  of  the  finished  work,and  along  one-half  the  distance 
in  rear.  An  immense  bed  of  sand  nas  collected,  coming  up 
to  the  top  of  the  superstructure,  and  forming  in  front  a  bank 
many  hundred  of  feet  into  the  ocean  at  low  tide.  "We 
measured  the  depth  of  the  water  on  the  outside  of  the  work, 
near  the  point  lately  finished,  where,  a  few  weeks  since,  a 
torrent  forty  feet  deep  rushed  through,  and  we  found  it  only 
about  ten  feet  deep.  In  a  month  or  two  the  sand  will 
doubtless  fill  up  to  the  top  of  the  work. 

Major  Griswold  has  displayed  an  appreciation  of  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  work  he  has  in  hand  and  the  difficulties  to  be  sur- 
mounted, and  so  far  as  we  are  competent  to  judge,  compre- 
hends the  effect  of  his  labors  upon  conflicting  currents,  which 
have  almost  destroyed  the  entrance  to  our  river,  and  provi- 
ded against  the  destructive  action  of  the  winds  upon  what 
he  has  finished.  We  are  satisfied  that  he  will  make  such 
further  progress  with  the  new  appropriation,  which  is  due 
next  month,  that  Congress  will  very  willingly  make  an  addi- 
tional appropriation  next  "Winter  to  complete  the  work  to 
Zeke's  Island  by  the  Fall  of  1872. 

The  manner  in  which  the  work  has  been  done  reflects 
the  greatest  credit  upon  those  in  immediate  charge.  We 
hope  our  citizens  generally  will  find  opportunity  during 
the  Summer  to  visit  the  scene  of  these  improvements. — 
We  are  sure  that  they  would  come  away  fully  impressed 
with  its  magnitude  and  importance  to  our  port,  and  satis- 
fled  that  it  can  be  successfully   prosecuted.     There  is  no 


60  .    . 

improvement  in  progress  or  contemplated  that  will  add  so 
much  to  the  prosperity  of  Wilmington  and  this  entire 
section,  and  we  should  do  all  in  our  power  to  further  it.  A 
failure  now  from  the  want  of  adequate  means  may,  and 
probably  will,  be  fatal  to  this  enterprize  for  many  years. 
The  proper  efforts  upon  our  part  can  secure  the  necessary 
appropriation,  and  we  must  make  them. — Journal  (Local) 
Editorial,  June  lZtli,  1871. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  9th  June,  1871. 
Dr.  W.  W.  Harriss, 

President  Chamber  of  Commerce : 
My  Dear  Sir  :— As  required  by  the  Chamber,  my  regular 
monthly  visit  to  the  public  works,  near  Zeke's  Island,  for 
the  improvement  of  the  Cape  Fear  Bar,  was  made  yester- 
day, and  it  is  with  much  pleasure  that  I  am  now  able  to 
report  the  perfect  completion  of  the  work  across  Deep  Inlet, 
the  northern  end  of  the  finished  superstructure  resting  firmly 
upon  the  highest  part  of  the  old  stone  work  at  a  point  desig- 
nated upon  the  plan  of  works  as  the  cross,  thus  effectually 
sealing  up  this  inlet  in  a  substantial  and  permanent  manner. 
When  we  take  into  consideration  the  formidable  character 
of  this  work,  an  opening  of  about  four  or  five  hundred  feet, 
requiring  a  superstructure  of  over  six  hundred  feet  lineal, 
by  twenty  feet  wide  and  over  forty  feet  high,  to  shut  out  or 
stop  a  current  of  water  passing  in  and  out  at  a  rate  of  eight 
or  ten  miles  an  hour,  and  all  of  this  to  be  accomplished 
within  the  short  space  of  eight  months,  and  at  a  cost  within 
the  sum.  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  I  think  I  may 
safely  be  allowed  to  congratulate  the  Chamber  upon  the 
satisfactory  manner  in  which  the  work  has  been  prosecuted, 
nnd  I  trust  that  I  may  be  pardoned  for  here  expressing  my 
appreciation  of  the  skill  and  industry  of  the  officers  who 
designed  and  executed  this  great  work.  Owing  to  the  mild 
weather  of  late  and   prevalence  of  Westwardly  winds  the 


61 

sand  has  not  made  up  against  the  works  so  rapidly  as  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  season,  when  the  weather  was  more  stormy 
and  the  winds  were  from  the  Eastward.  There  is,  however,  a 
perceptible  shoaling  of  the  channels  and  holes  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  works,  and  the  formation  of  shoals  outside  and  in 
front  of  the  works,  which  will  no  doubt  be  brought  up  by 
the  first  heavy  wind  from  the  East.  It  is  much  to  be  re- 
gretted that  very  little  work  can  be  done  this  month,  owing 
to  exhaustion,  or  nearly  so,  of  the  first  appropriation.  Con- 
sequently the  work  must  move  very  slowly  until  July,  when 
the  last  appropriation  becomes  available.  The  experiments 
for  collecting  drift  sand  and  thereby  elevating  the  beach  in 
the  low  parts  of  it,  to  which  allusion  was  made  in  my  last 
report,  has  not  been  made  in  consequence  of  financial 
deficiency.  The  first  imperfect  experiment  has  acted  well 
and  accomplished  all  that  was  expected  of  it,  elevating  the 
beach  above  storm  tide,  thus  proving  the  feasibility  of 
building  up  the  beach  to  any  desired  height  by  judicious 
treatment  at  small  cost. 

The  outer  beach  and  outer  shoals  seem  to  be  growing  and 
forming  in  a  manner  altogether  satisfactory. 

During  the  past  month  a  corps  of  engineers,  under  Capt. 
Junkin,  (sent  out  by  the  Superintendent  of  the  Coast 
Survey,)  has  been  surveying  the  main  entrance  of  the  river, 
near  Smith's  Island  and  Eort  Caswell,  a  report  of  which  I 
presume  will  be  made  public  before  a  great  while,  and  which 
will  settle  the  question  of  improvement,  if  any,  in  the  draught 
of  water  upon  the  Bar  and  Rip  since  the  commencement  of 
the  work  of  closing  the  deep  inlet,  more  satisfactorily  than 
any  soundings  which  I  can  make. 

I  have,  therefore,  made  no  soundings  since  my  last  report, 
but  rely  upon  a  more  accurate  report  of  the  officers  of  the 
Coast  Survey. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  HENRY  NUTT,  Chairman. 


62 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  July  13th,  1871. 
To  De.  W.  W.  Habeiss, 

President  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Wilmington,  N.  C: 

Deae  Sie  : — My  usual  monthly  visit  to  the  "  Bar  Improve- 
ment Works  "  was  made  yesterday.  As  stated  in  my  last 
report,  of  the  9th  of  June,  very  little  work  was  expected  du- 
ring that  month,  owing  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  appropria- 
tion for  the  fiscal  year  ending  30th  June.  Since  the  1st  July 
instant,  the  work  has  been  vigorously  renewed,  and  although 
some  little  delay  was  occasioned  in  re-organizing  the  hands, 
much  has  been  accomplished  in  this  short  time.  About  one 
hundred  lineal  feet  of  crib  superstructure  has  been  placed 
upon  the  old  stone  foundation  and  partially  filled  with  stone. 
In  the  meantime,  sand  shoals  are  rapidly  coming  up  in  front 
of  the  works,  for  their  protection  and  security,  while  the 
narrow  flat  beach  to  the  Southward  is  rapidly  growing  and 
strengthening.  Everything  seems  to  be  progressing  well, 
and  much  better  than  might  be  reasonably  expected. 

I  am  pleased  to  inform  you  that  the  Engineer  in  charge 
has  considered  the  importance  of  securing  the  drift  sand 
which  may  be  collected  on  the  low,  weak  parts  of  the  beach, 
by  means  of  brush  fences  and  other  obstructions,  and  placed 
a  man  in  special  charge  of  that,  department.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  this  is  work  which  requires  time  to  develope.  With- 
in the  few  days  that  he  has  been  at  work,  various  experi- 
ments have  been  made  in  propagating  the  native  beach  grass 
and  weed  from  roots  and  cuttings,  and  also  of  the  jointed 
cane  grass,  all  of  which  appears  to  be  doing  well,  and  I  trust 
will  prove  successful. 

The  new  brush  fence,  alluded  to  in  a  former  report,  has 
not  yet  been  completed,  but  I  am  informed  it  will  be  in  a  few 
days.  The  only  comment  which  I  propose  at  present,  is, 
that  the  work  looks  very  encouraging. 

Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT. 


63 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  12th  AtrauST,  1871, 
To  De.  TV.  W.  Haeeiss, 

President  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Wilmington,  Jtf.  C: 

Sie  : — No  convenient  opportunity  having  presented  itself 
at  an  earlier  day,  I  made  a  visit  to  the  public  works,  near 
New  Inlet,  in  company  with  Major  Griswold,  the  resident 
Engineer,  this  day. 

In  my  last  report,  I  stated  that  about  one  hundred  lineal 
feet  of  cribs  had  been  placed  in  position  upon  the  old  stone 
foundation,  and  partially  filled  in  with  stone.  It  now  becomes 
my  pleasant  task  to  report  the  placing  of  the  foundation  of 
cribs  up  to  the  first  channel,  through  the  line  of  the  old  stone 
work,  a  distance  of  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  feet  from 
the  cross,  as  designated  in  my  June  report,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  feet  of  which  is  complete,  with  the  finishing 
superstructure. 

The  channel  above  alluded  to,  which  at  the  commencement 
of  the  work  exhibited  about  eight  feet  of  water,  was  found 
when  reached  by  the  workmen,  to  have  cut  out  to  a  much 
greater  depth.  The  rapid  cutting  out  of  this  channel  may 
be  attributed,  I  think,  to  the  contraction  of  the  opening 
through  which  the  water  had  previously  passed  concentra- 
ting it  upon  this  point.  This  channel  (which  is  not  wide)  is 
now  being  bedded  with  stone,  preparatory  to  placing  the 
foundation  cribs  across  it. 

This  unexpected  extra  work  has  somewhat  retarded  a  rap- 
id progress  ;  but,  upon  the  whole,  the  work  appears  to  be 
aaoving  forward  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  The  brush 
fence  for  collecting  sand  upon  the  low  parts  of  the  beach,  is 
acting  finely,  and  has  already  elevated  the  surface  above 
storm  tides  wherever  they  have  been  placed. 

The  experiments  in  cultivating  grass  upon  the  bare  beach 
nave  the  appearance  of  proving  successful.  The  native  grass, 
found  growing  spontaneously  upon  these  sands,  and  which  I 
designate  as  beach  grass,  is  found  to  bear  transplanting  gen- 
erously, and  I  think  will  prove  of  much  value  in  collecting 
the  drift  sand,  as  well  as  securing  it,  having  strong  lateral 
and  fibrous  roots,  with  a  stout  cane-like  spike  running  up 


64 

some  three  to  five  feet  above  ground — putting  out  lateral 
roots  at  every  joint  as  rapidly  as  the  sand  collects  around  it 
meanwhile  shooting  upward  the  main  stem  to  its  standard 
height,  carrying  with  it  its  beautiful  head  of  seed.  This 
grass  being  of  spontaneous  production,  seems  peculiarly 
adapted  by  nature  for  just  such  positions,  and  only  requires 
the  hand  of  industry  and  skill  to  make  it  of  incalculable  value. 

The  beach,  two  to  five  miles  south  of  the  works,  appears 
in  a  critical  condition,  in  some  places  quite  narrow,  and  cut 
<out  in  trenches  between  the  hills  by  the  force  of  prevailing 
winds', — the  water,  during  very  high  tides,  finds  passage 
across,  and,  if  long  neglected,  the  result  is  plain,  without  the 
gift  of  prophecy. 

This  condition  of  the  :beach  may  probably  be  attributable 
to  the  concentration  of  wind  currents  in  their  passage  South 
and  West  over  the  open  bay  lying  between  Smith's  Island 
and  the  mainland  ;  and  which  has  likewise  had  the  effect 
(most  probably)  of  producing  a  curvature  in  the  coast  line, 
which  can  only  be  checked  by  the  cultivation  of  shrubbery 
for  strengthening  the  beach. 

It  is  perceptible  that  the  volume  of  water  passing  out  of 
the  main  or  old  outlet  of  the  river,  between  Smith's  Island 
and  Oak  Island,  has  been  largely  increased  since  the  com- 
mencement of  operations  near  New  Inlet,  and  which  seems 
to  take  the  direction  of  the  old  Eastern  channel,  near  Bald 
Head  Point,  where  it  is  spread  over  various  shoals,  which 
may  require  dredging  or  plowing  to  concentrate  the  water 
Into  a  defined  channel,  which  no  doubt  it  will  soon  scour  out. 

The  chart  of  a  survey  of  the  main  outlet  of  the  river,  made 
by  Capt.  Junkin  in  May  last,  by  direction  of  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey Department,  has  been  received  by  Major  Griswold,  which 
exhibits  a  draft  of  nine  and  a  half  (9^)  feet  of  water  at  mean 
low  tide  on  the  rip  near  Fort  Caswell. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  HENRY  NUTT,  Chairman. 


G5 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  September  2d,  1871. 
To  Dr.  W.  W.  Harriss.. 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce : 

Sir  : — In  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Chamber,  the 
regular  monthly  visit  of  your  Committee  to  the  public  works 
for  the  improvement  of  Cape  Fear  Bar  and  River  was  made 
this  day,  and  they  are  pleased  to  report  the  steady  and  suc- 
cessful progress  of  the  work. 

Since   their  last  report,  August  the  12th,  a  most  violent 
Northeast  gale  has  visited  our  coast,  producing  some  appre- 
hension for  the  safety  of  the  works,  and  during  the  month 
much  rainy  weather  prevailed,  retarding  operations  some- 
what.   From  the  violence  of  the  storm  some  of  the  unfinished 
cribs  and  preparatory  timber  was  displaced,  which  involved 
some   loss  of  time    and  labor   to    place   them   in  position 
again.     This   was   successfully  and   speedily   accomplished 
through  the  energy  and  skill  of  the  Local  Superintendent, 
and  all  is  now  going  on  well  again.    It  is  with  much  pleasure 
that  they  are  enabled  to  report  the  perfect  safety  and  security 
of  the  finished  work,  for,  notwithstanding  the  storm  was  one 
of    unusual    violence    and    duration,    from  the    Northeast, 
and  the  ocean  water  elevated  much  above  its  ordinary  level, 
having  full  and  unobstructed  sweep,  was  brought  against  the 
works  with  great  force,  no  injury  whatever  was  sustained  ; 
not  a  timber  or  plank  was  moved  from  its  position,  thus 
proving  the  adaptability  of  the  plans  designed  for  a  successful 
prosecution  of  this  great  and  important  work.   They  here  beg 
leave   to   call  your    attention   to   the   fact   that   while  the 
Engineers  and  operatives  have  done  all  that  flesh  and  blood 
could  do  under  the  circumstances,  they  nevertheless  labor 
under  grievous  disadvantages  for  the  want  of  means  to  em- 
ploy a  sufficient   force  to  guard   and  protect  exposed   and 
weak  points  ahead  of  their  work  while  they  are  advancing 
and  securing  the  general  line  ;  for   experience   has  shown 
that  as  the  volume  of  water  parsing  in  and  out  of  these  open- 
ings is  checked,  or  shut  out,  its  passage  being  contra  eted,  it 
is  thrown  with  greater  force  upon  the  weaker  point:-,  cutting 


.  66 

them  out  very  rapidly,  entailing  a  greater  expenditure  of 
money,  time  and  labor  for  securing  them  afterwards. 

So  you  will  readily  perceive  that  the  officers  in  charge  of  this 
work,  with  the  best  intentions,  are  obstructed  and  tied  down 
to  a  limited  monthly  expenditure,  thereby  restraining  them 
in  rendering  to  the  Government  as  valuable  service  as  they 
might  otherwise  do,  and  postponing  the  period  of  inscribing 
their  own  names  in  the  niche  of  fame.  The  shoals  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  works  have  somewhat  changed  their  positions, 
but  this  is  by  no  means  prejudicial  to  them.  A  portion  of  the 
sand  in  front  of  the  work  has  been  thrown  over  and  back  of  it, 
which  is  rather  an  advantage,  as  more  sand  will,  no  doubt 
soon  take  its  place  in  front.  Zeke's  Island  is  somewhat 
changed,  indicating  an  increased  low  water  area,  while  its 
high  water  area  appears  diminished.  There  is  some  appear- 
ance of  an  increased  depth  of  water  in  the  small  inlet  next 
south  of  the  Island,  though  I  had  no  means  of  determining 
this  fact.  The  outer  shoals  seem  to  increase,  and  the  point 
of  beach  extending  northward  in  front  of  the  work,  while  the 
beach  south  is  evidently  and  perceptibly  growing.  The 
catch  sand  fences  have  proven  successful,  not  a  rail  was 
removed  by  the  storm,  and  the  brush  has  been  completely 
covered  with  sand  to  the  top  of  the  fence,  presenting  an  em- 
bankment three  or  rive  feet  high,  and,  of  course,  far  above 
the  reach  of  any  tide.  This  and  the  weak  parts  of  the  beach, 
where  the  wind  has  blown  out  trenches  between  the  hills, 
are  now  being  strengthened  by  a  system  of  cultivating  the 
beach  grass.  This  grass  bears  transplanting  well ;  none  of 
that  which  was  set  out  in  July  and  August  has  died,  but  all  is 
growing  and  doing  finely,  and  I  think  will  bear  transplanting 
at  any  season  of  the  year.  Where  planted,  it  has  not  only 
successfully  resisted  the  blowing  away  of  sand,  but  has 
already  collected  it  in  many  places  a  foot  or  over  in  height. 
The  Major  has  been  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of  a 
competent  man  in  this  department,  who  seems  to  understand 
his  business,  and  I  hope  is  doing  valuable  service,  which 
time  alone  will  demonstrate. 

Having  no  opportunity  of  visiting  the  lower  harbor  and 


67 

main  inlet,  your  Committee  have  nothing  to  acid  to  their 
August  report  in  that  direction.  In  conclusion,  they  beg  to 
state  that  thus  far  in  the  progress  of  the  work  everything 
has  worked  well ;  there  have  been  no  mistakes  or  blunders, 
no  waste  of  time  or  money,  and  the  prospect  ahead  is  flat- 
tering. Everything  now  depends  upon  the  good  sense  and 
liberality  of  Congress  in  making  the  necessary  appropria- 
tions for  the  early  and  successful  completion  of  this  noble 
enterprise.  The  gentlemen  in  charge  of  this  work  seem 
fully  alive  to  its  varied  complications,  its  difficulties,  magni- 
tude and  importance,  and  are  working  like  beavers  to  inscribe 
their  names  high  on  the  roll  of  fame,  and  should  they  be  so 
fortunate  as  to  merit  it  by  a  full  and  complete  accomplish- 
ment, none  will  rejoice  more  than 

Your  humble  servant, 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  30th  September,  1871. 
To  Wm.  W.  Harriss,  Esq., 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce : 

Sir  : — The  usual  monthly  visit  of  your  Committee  to  the 
public  works,  near  New  Inlet,  for  the  improvement  of  Cape 
Fear  Bar  and  Harbor,  was  made  yesterday,  in  the  company 
of  Major  Griswold,  Mayor  Martin  and  others. 

In  appearance  the  work  has  made  very  little  progress,  but 
remains  apparently  in  the  condition  in  which  it  was  left  on  the 
occasion  of  their  last  report  a  month  ago  ;  the  labors  of  the 
Superintendent  having  been  directed  exclusively  to  harden- 
ing the  bottoms  of  the  small  openings  through  the  line  of  old 
stone  work,  to  prevent  further  washing  out  as  the  work  pro- 
ceeds, and  of  leveling  up  the  same  with  stone  to  receive  the 
cribs  and  finishing  superstructure. 

This  work  is  all  under  water,  of  course  out  of  sight,  and  to 
the  casual  observer,  affords  little  appearance  of  progress  ; 
whereas,  a  large  amount  of  necessary  labor  and  expense  has 


68 

really  been  accomplished,  this  extra  labor  and  expense  being 
necessitated  by  the  limited  amount  of  means  allowed  for 
prosecuting  the  work  with  economy  and  dispatch. 

It  is  expected  that  in  a  short  time  this  precautionary  pre- 
paration will  be  complete,  when  the  regular  work  of  finishing 
up  the  line  will  proceed  as  heretofore. 

It  is  perceptible  that  the  water  is  shoaling  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  works  on  both  sides  of  it,  and  the  outer  shoals  are  evi- 
dently moving  up,  as  it  were,  in  a  body.  The  point  of  beach 
is  extending  Northward,  and  in  front  of  the  work.  The  inlet 
South  of  Zeke's  Island  seems  not  to  be  affected,  as  its  depth 
of  water  is  still  maintained,  while  the  Island  itself  is  grad- 
ually wearing  away,  and  is  almost  entirely  covered  with  wa- 
ter by  high  tides.  The  catch  sand  fences  are  operating  very 
well,  and  form  a  good  nucleus  for  building  up  the  beach  uni- 
formly, while  the  beach  grass,  which  is  being  planted,  and 
which  seems  alive  and  growing  well,  does  much  towards 
strengthening  the  beach  against  incursions  of  the  wind,  as 
well  as  collecting  and  securing  the  sand. 

The  breach  across  Bald  Head  Point,  in  rear  of  the  old  jet- 
tie,  is  progressing.  A  very  strong  outward  current  is  here 
formed  by  the  river  water,  which  seems  to  take  the  direction 
of  the  Eastern  shore  ;  and,  its  abrasion  upon  the  soft  earth 
of  the  point  being  more  effective  than  upon  the  hard  bottom 
of  its  channel,  the  point  is  rapidly  wearing  away,  instead  of 
deepening  the  channel. 

Respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  9th  Novembek,  1871. 
Col.  W.  L.  DeRosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Sir  : — Your  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject 

of  "  Bar  and  River   Improvements,"  visited  the   works  on 

Tuesday  last,  the  7th  instant,  and  ask  leave  to  report :  That 


C9 

since  their  last  report  a  month  ago,  there  is  very  little 
appearance  of  progress,  the  work  being  confined  to  securing 
a  foundation  for  the  break-water,  which  is  now  nearly  com- 
plete. The  work  of  placing  the  finishing  superstructure 
has  commenced,  and  we  trust  our  next  leport  will  exhibit  a 
considerable  amount  of  finished  work.  We  are  pleased  to 
report  that  the  sand  has  been  brought  up  against  the  break- 
water, entirely  across  the  deep  inlet  to  high  water  mark,  and 
the  beach  has  been  formed  from  the  outer  edge  of  the 
abutment  at  the  cross,  or  southern  end  of  the  old  line  of 
stone  work,  almost  in  a  straight  line  to  the  outer  point  of 
beach,  thus  filling  the  deep  inlet  and  effectually  securing 
the  break-water.  This  is  a  most  flattering  result,  the  magDi' 
tude  of  which  can  only  be  understood  when  we  state  that 
this  was  an  inlet  about  six  hundred  feet  wide  and  thirty  to 
forty  feet  deep,  with  an  eight  to  ten  knot  current. 

The  beach  is  extending  northward,  from  which  a  line  of 
shoals  is  apparent  in  the  direction  of  Zeke's  Island,  some 
distance  in  front  of  the  break-water  line. 

The  catch  sand  fences  and  grass  cultivation  are  perfectly 
satisfactory. 

We  find  growing  upon  the  beach  two  distinct  varieties  of 
grass,  but  somewhat  similar  in  character,  designed,  no  doubt, 
by  nature,  for  collecting  and  binding  the  drift  sand  of  such 
localities,  being  of  humble  appearance,  and  seemingly  suited 
to  no  other  purpose.  Not  knowing  the  name  of  either,  we 
shall  designate  them  as  "  Matt  Grass  "  and  "  Carolina  Beach 
Grass."  Not  having  seen  the  former  in  bloom  we  are  unable 
to  determine  positively,  but  as  it  bears  some  of  the  charac- 
teristics of  leaf  and  root  described  of  the  "  Matt  grass  "  of 
England  and  Scotland,  (where  it  is  so  highly  valued  as  a 
seacoast  defence  as  to  be  recognized  by  the  Government  of 
Great  Britain  and  nationalized  by  special  act  of  Parliament 
for  its  protection,)  we  think  it  the  same,  and  shall  so  treat  it 
for  the  present. 

We  find  this  grass  was  known  and  cultivated  as  a  seacoast 
defence  at  Provincetown,  (Cape  Cod,)  in  Massachusetts,  as 
early  as  1812.     It  has  likewise  been  cultivated  with  success 


upon  the  sands  at  Lowell,  and  still  further  up  on  the  banks 
of  the  Merrimack  river. 

We  also  rind  that  this  grass  is  not  unknown  to*  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  for,  between  the  years  1826 
and  1839  .  Congress  appropriated  twenty-eight  thousand 
dollars,  which  was  expended  in  setting  out  this  beach  grass 
near  the  village  of  Provincetown,  for  the  protection  of  the 
harbor.  And  again,  as  late  as  the  year  1854,  five  thousand 
dollars  were  wisely  expended  by  the  General  Government  in 
adding  to  the  work.  So  this  grass  seems  to  have  had  a 
national  reputation  even  in  this  country,  and  the  precedent 
is  here  established  for  its  cultivation  upon  our  coast,  where 
ifc  is  much  needed.  The  "  Carolina  beach  grass/'  alluded  to 
above,  we  can  find  no  description  of.  It  differs  from  the 
"  Matt  grass  "  in  that  it  has  a  stout,  rigid  cane-like  culm 
rising  three  to  five  feet  above  ground,  long,  flat  leaves,  and 
•spreading  pannicle,  putting  out  strong,  lateral  joots  from 
every  joint  as  soon  as  the  sand  reaches  it ;  in  the  meantime 
the  culm  is  pushed  upward,  and  is  consequently  always  out 
of  the  way  of  an  extraordinary  drift  of  sand.  The  roots  are 
stouter  than  the  Matt  grass,  having  the  same  peculiarity  of 
spreading,  producing  tubers,  from  which  issue  new  shoots  or 
plants,  and  possessing  many  advantages  over  the  Matt  grass. 
As  a  collector  and  binder  of  drift  sand  we  know  of  no 
superior,  and  this  is  the  grass  adopted  for  cultivation  upon 
our  beach  by  the  Engineer  in  charge  of  the  work,  and  from 
-which  £(if  continued)  we  may  reasonably  expect  valuable 
results. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  as  yet,  no'special  appropria- 
tion has  been  made  for  this  object. 

In  view  of  the  importance  of  restoring,  preserving  and 
protecting  this  valuable  harbor,  its  magnitude,  the  many 
and  varied  complications  surrounding  the  operations  of  a 
.successful,  economical  and  early  completion  of  the  work, 
your  Committee  feel  that  they  cannot  too  strongly  urge 
upon  the  Chamber  the  necessity  of  using  all  lawful  means, 
leaving  no  wheel  unturned  to  procure  from  the  next  Congress 
&  sufficient  appropriation  to  enable  the  Engineer  in  charge 


71 

of  tliis  work  not  merely  to  complete  the  break-water  now  in 
course  of  construction,  but  likewise  to  enable  liini  to  command 
the  situation  according  to  his  own  judgment  and  discretion  in 
all  its  varied  complications,  as  contemplated  in  the  general 
plan  of  operations,  such  as  strengthening  weak  points, 
removing  obstructions,  dredging  proper  channels,  &c. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman,  &c. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  14th  Decembee,  1871. 
Col.  W.  L.  DeEosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Wilmington,  N.  C: 

Sie  :— The  monthly  visit  to  the  public  works  for  the  im- 
provement of  Cape  Fear  River  and  Bar  was  made  by  your 
Committee  on  Wednesday  of  last  week,  the  6th  inst.  Since 
their  last  visit,  on  the  7th  of  November,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  (150)  lineal  feet  of  the  line  of  breakwater  has  been 
finished,  and  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  (125)  feet 
more  pretty  well  advanced  towards  completion,  which  will 
be  finished  in  a  few  days. 

During  the  past  few  months  a  succession  of  storms  has 
prevailed  upon  the  coast,  accompanied  by  unusually  high 
tides,  involving  some  loss  of  time,  labor,  and  materials,  and 
also  some  change  of  operations  ;  and  as  this  report  may  not 
be  clearly  understood  as  harmonizing  strictly  with  former 
reports,  we  recapitulate. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  work,  about  nine  hundred 
(900)  lineal  feet  of  breakwater  has  been  permanently  fixed 
and  completely  finished,  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  (125) 
feet  more  nearly  finished,  besides  a  considerable  amount  of 
Work  done  in  securing  the  foundation  for  the  advancing 
breakwater.  In  the  meantime,  the  floating  sand  of  the  ocean 
has  sveadily  followed  the  work  as  finished,  and  settled  into  a 
firm  beach  in  front  of  the  breakwater,  two  to  four  hundred 
feet  wide,  thus  securing  the  stability  of  the  works  against  al- 
most^any  contingency. 


72 

The  violent  Southeast  gale,  of  the  10th  of  November  ac- 
companied by  the  extraordinary  tidal-wave  of  five  to  seven 
feet  above  ordinary  tides,  swept  away  a. portion  of  the  front 
of  Smith's  Island  beach,  south  of  the  work,  but  we  are  pleas- 
ed to  say  that  it  is  now  rapidly  making  up  again. 

And  we  are  further  pleased  to  note  the  perfect  success  and 
utility  of  the  catch  sand  fences  and  grass  cultivation,  neither 
of  which  was  damaged,  but  resisted  without  injury  both 
storm  and  tide  ;  and  we  cannot  but  esteem  it  as  most  fortu- 
nate that  the  work  of  building  up  and  securing  the  beach  was 
commenced  as  early  as  it  was,  but  for  which  the  probabilities 
are  that  a  large  portion  of  the  beach  would  have  been  swept 
into  the  river  by  the  late  storm  and  tidal-wave. 

Tour  Committee  beg  leave  to  express  their  gratification  at 
the  wonderful  success  which  has  thus  far  attended  this  work, 
and  the  great  accomplishment  with  the  limited  means  at 
command. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  attention  of  Congress  may  be 
directed  to  a  more  liberal  appropriation  for  vigorously  prose- 
cuting this  important  work. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  H.  NtJTT,  Chairman. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  8m  January,  1872. 
Col.  Wi.  L.  DeBosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Wilmington.  N.  C: 

Sir  : — On  Friday,  the  4th  instant,  your  Committee  visited 
the  public  works  near  New  Inlet  for  the  improvement  of  the 
Bar  and  River.  Teey  also  walked  some  five  or  six  miles  down 
the  beach  toward  Smith's  Island,  to  see  the  condition  of  the 
beach  in  that  direction,  as  well  as  to  see  the  effect  of  the 
catch  sand  fences,  and  examine  the  progress  of  the  grass 
culture. 

As  anticipated  in  their  last  report,  very  little  work  has  been 
done  during^the  past  month,  owing  to  the  holidays  inter- 


i  o 


vening,  and  the  usual  loss  of  time  in  closing  up  the  affairs  of 
one  year  and  commencing  another. 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  of  unfinished  work 
alluded  to  in  our  last  report,  about  fifty  feet  have  been 
finished  ; — work  is  also  progressing  on  the  line  of  breakwater. 
This  is  about  all  which  appears  to  have  been  done  during 
the  past  broken  month.  Nature,  however,  continues  her 
work  of  enlarging  the  beach,  and  bringing  up  the  shoals,  to 
secure  and  strengthen  the  breakwater  as  fast  as  it  can  be 
finished. 

The  catch  sand  fences  have  accomplished  more  than  was 
expected  of  them,  having  elevated  the  beach  four  to  seven 
feet  high,  and  several  thousand  feet  in  length.  "Wherever 
the  brush  fence  is  placed,  the  beach  makes  up  immediately 
to  it,  and  if  the  means  were  at  command  the  whole  beach 
could  very  soon  be  secured. 

The  grass  cultivation  has  had  no  opportunity  as  yet  of 
displaying  its  real  value  to  the  casual  observer,  (no  growing 
season  having  been  reached  since  its  commencement,)  but 
with  your  committee,  who  have  watched  its  progress,  the 
utmost  confidence  is  established  in  its  ultimate  success.- — 
When  pktnted,  it  puts  out  roots  immediately,  takinsr  firm  hold 
upon  the  surrounding  sand,  which  it  secures,  collecting  the 
blowing  sand  as  high  as  its  tops  will  permit ;  and  we  think 
the  beach  will  build  up  just  as  fast  as  the  grass  grows.  To 
your  committee  at  least,  therefore,  the  growing  season  of  the 
next  six  or  eight  months  will  be  one  of  much  interest. 

WTe  feel  constrained,  though  reluctantly,  to  bring  to  your 
notice  the  critical,  we  may  say  dangerous,  condition  of  that 
portion  of  the  beach  lying  next  to  Smith's  Island,  and  extend- 
ing up  above  the  lower  pilot  look-out.  In  several  places  the 
beach  or  ridge  of  sand  (not  high)  does  not  exceed  thirty  feet 
in  width  at  high  tides  ;  and  at  other  places,  the  beach  being 
low  and  flat,  the  ocean  waves  make  a  clean  sweep  across  at 
extreme  high  tides,  and  it  is  simply  wonderful  that  a  perma- 
nent opening  has  not  long  since  been  effected. 

This  danger  being  remote  from  the  field  of  operations,  no 
doubt  has  escaped  the  notice  of  the  Engineer  in  charge  of 


74 

the  works-  We  therefore  deem  it  necessary  only  to  intimate 
these  facts.  We  believe,  however,  he  has  already  taken  the 
preliminary  steps  to  secure  these  points. 

We  here  beg  leave  to  state  incidentally,  as  matter  of 
information  for  the  Chamber,  that  a  corps  of  Engineers  from 
Charleston,  under  Gen.  Ludlow,  has  been  examining  the  site 
and  surroundings  of  Fort  Anderson,  for  what  purpose  we  are 
not  advised ;  and  also  another  corps,  under  direction  of  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Coast  Survey  Department,  are  making 
surveys  of  the  harbor  and  its  entrances  as  high  up  as  Fede- 
ral Point,  and  which  it  is  expected  to  complete  in  a  few  days. 

The  visit  of  the  Commission  appointed  to  investigate  mat- 
ters relating  to  our  harbor,  expected  here  on  Tuesday,  the 
9th  instant,  has  been  unavoidably  deferred.  Conjecture  only 
is  left  us  that  it  is  temporary,  and  that  very  soon  we  shall 
have  the  pleasure  of  greeting  their  arrival. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


BAR  and  river  improvements— our  mer- 
chants. 


We  publish  elsewhere  the  monthly  report  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  upon  the  condition  of  the 
Government  works  at  New  Inlet,  submitted  to  that  body  by 
Mr.  Henry  Nutt,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee.  It  is  un- 
necessary for  us  to  point  out  the  value  of  these  reports 
and  the  favorable  influence  they  are  having  in  official  circles. 
Every  minute  particular,  with  which  they  abound,  gives  to 
the  proper  department  the  very  information  which  is  most 
desired. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  for  us  to  refer  to  the  importance  of 
the  works  now  in  progress,  looking  to  the  improvement  of 


75 

our  bar  and  river.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  business 
of  our  city  know  that  the  want  of  water  is  the  great  barrier 
to  the  rapid  improvement  of  Wilmington.  If  the  draft  of 
water  upon  our  bar  and  in  the  channel  of  the  river  could  be 
doubled,  the  commerce,  wealth  and  population  of  our  city 
would  be  doubled  also.  We  have  now  direct  communication 
with  Augusta  and  the  upper  portions  of  South  Carolina,  and 
will  soon  be  in  direct  communication  with  the  interior  of  our 
owj  State  by  the  completion  of  the  Wilmington,  Charlotte 
and  Rutherford  Railroad.  Other  railroads  are  contemplated 
and  will  be  built,  and  others  not  now  spoken  of  will  be 
projected  and  finished,  if  the  works  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
are  successfully  pushed  forward. 

Railroads  are  now  projected,  and,  indeed,  several  are  being 
pushed  Eastward,  to  connect  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and 
Memphis  with  the  Atlantic.  The  geographical  position  of 
our  city  is  most  favorable  for  this  connection,  and  our  large 
lumber  business  with  the  West  Indies  renders  our  port  the 
best  adapted  to  supply  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  Valleys 
with  the  products  of  these  Islands.  The  want  of  water  upon 
our  bar  and  in  our  river  will  prove  a  fatal  barrier  to  this 
business  unless  it  is  removed. 

Can  it  be  done  ?  Can  we  prepare  our  port  to  do  its  full 
share  of  the  vast  business  which  must  soon  burst  through 
our  Western  mountains  and  seek  the  Atlantic  ?  Charleston 
and  Norfolk,  on  each  side  of  us,  are  preparing.  They  are 
going  out  to  meet  it  and  divide  it  between  them.  We  will 
certainly  lose  it  if  we  lie  supinely  upon  our  backs.  The 
rapidly  increasing  business  of  the  West  must  have  new 
channels.  The  railroads  to  New  York  and  Baltimore  are 
too  long  ;  the  river  to  New  Orleans  is  unreliable,  and  trans- 
portation is  too  slow.  And,  indeed,  there  will  soon  be 
business  enough  to  over-crowd  all  their  present  modes  of 
transportation.  Direct  and  short  connection  with  the  At- 
lantic must  be  had. 

We  think  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  our  bar  and  river 
can  be  improved.  Considering  the  means  at  hand.  Major 
Griswold,  the  Engineer  in  charge,  has  worked  wonders.    The 


progress  he  has  made,  the  work  resisting,  in  its  unfinished 
state,  the  fury  of  some  of  the  wildest  storms  which  have 
ever  visited  our  coast ;  nay,  its  strength  and  durability  is 
increased  by  their  action,  shows  him  not  only  capable,  but 
"  master  of  the  situation." 

We  are  satisfied,  from  personal  inspection  of  the  work, 
from  the  monthly  reports  submitted  to  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  and  from  the  judgment  of  scientific  men,  that 
with  sufficient  appropriations  New  Inlet  can  be  closed,  and 
the  water  on  the  lower  bar  increased  to  almost  its  original 
depth. 

If  this,  indeed,  be  the  great  barrier  to  our  progress,  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  use  his  best  exertions 
to  remove  it.  Other  cities  and  States  are  getting  vast 
appropriations  to  rebuild  public  buildings,  to  increase  public 
woiks,  to  improve  harbors  and  rivers,  and  our  claims  are 
equal  to  the  best.  It  has  been  our  experience  that  those 
who  have  been  modest  in  pushing  their  own  interests  have 
been  overlooked  and  neglected. 

The  question  occurs,  who  are  the  proper  persons  to 
promote  our  interests  in  this  behalf  ?  Every  one  will  say 
that  the  merchants  of  Wilmington  can  do  more,  by  proper 
action,  than  all  others. 

We  know  that  when  bills  are  to  be  passed  in  the  Legisla- 
ture or  Congress,  public  men  are  expected  to  assist  in  their 
passage.  Merchants,  ordinarily,  pay  little  attention  to  such 
matters,  and  are  apt  to  forget  that  they  have  any  considera- 
tion in  such  bodies.  They  underrate  their  own  influence 
too  frequently.  We  are  satisfied  that  in  securing  an  adequate 
appropriation  for  our  bar  improvement  that  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  this  city  can  do  more  than  all  the  politicians 
of  the  State  combined.  Let  them  assemble  together  and 
draft  a  petition  setting  forth  the  progress  made  and  the 
advantages  in  a  commercial  and  naval  point  of  view  its 
completion  will  give ;  let  a  committee  from  the  Chamber 
visit  the  merchants  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
and  secure  their  endorsement  and  co-operation,  which  will 
be  readily  given.    Then  let  the  appeal  be  made  to  Congress. 


Fortified  with  these  mercantile  endorsements  and  aided  by 
the  presence  of  several  of  our  leading  merchants,  we  will 
warrant  that  Colonel  Waddell,  our  member  of  Congress,  will 
have  little  difficulty  in  getting  an  appropriation  sufficiently 
large  to  place  the  enterprise  beyond  the  chance  of  failure. 

Is  it  not  worth  an  earnest  and  faithful  trial  ?  We  submit 
the  proposition  to  our  merchants  and  leave  it  to  their  candid 
consideration.  A  commission  of  distinguished  Government 
officials  will  soon  visit  the  works  at  New  Inlet  and  submit  a 
report.  If  it  should  be  favorable,  and  we  have  no  doubt  on 
that  score,  it  will  be  the  best  opportunity  for  our  merchants 
to  act.  Let  their  petition  follow  this  report.  Who  doubts 
that  their  efforts  will  be  crowned  with  success  ? — Journal 
Editorial,  January  2d,  1872. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  8th  February,  1872. 
Col.  Wm.  L.  DeKosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Sir  : — Your  Committee  have  had  no  opportunity  of  visiting 
the  works  near  New  Inlet  for  the  improvement  of  the  harbor, 
and  consequently  are  unable  at  present  to  make  their  usual 
monthly  report  upon  the  situation  and  progress  of  the  work. 
They  hope  to  be  enabled  to  do  so  in  a  few  days. 

The  Board  of  Engineers  to  examine  our  harbor,  and  the 
works  now  in  progress  for  its  improvement,  alluded  to  in  our 
last  monthly  report,  consisting  of  Generals  Z.  B.  Tower,  Q. 
A.  Gilmore,  J.  G.  Foster  and  H.  G.  Wright,  accompanied  by 
Col.  Wm.  P.  Craighill  and  Capt.  C.  B.  Phillips,  arrived  on 
the  evening  of  the  23d  of  January  last. 

On  the  24th,  they,  with  a  number  of  our  merchants  and 
other  citizens,  made  an  excursion  down  to  the  works,  to  Fed- 
eral Point  and  Fort  Fisher,  on  board  the  U.  S.Kevenue  Cut- 
ter Seward,  Capt.  Carson,  tendered  for  the  occasion  through 
the  courtesy  of  D.  Eumley,  Esq.,  Collector  of  the  port.    The 


7  b 

25th  was  also  spent  down  the  river,  on  Smith':;  Island,  Bald 
Head,  and  Fort  Caswell.  The  weather  on  both  days  was 
very  fine,  and  to  the  courteous  attentions  of  Capt.  Carson 
and  his  ofiicers  are  we  indebted  for  a  most  pleasant  time. 

We  are,  of  course,  in  ignorance  as  to  the  conclusions  ar- 
rived at  by  the  Board,  but  entertaining  the  utmost  confidence 
in  its  ability  to  comprehend  the  true  situation,  as  it  was,  is 
now,  and  what  it  may  be  again,  and  in  its  integrity  and  kindly 
feeling  to  recommend  the  proper  appliances  for  restoring  the 
harbor.     We  feel  assured  that  its  report  will  be  satisfactory. 

We  herewith  submit  a  letter  from  CoL  Craighill,  returning 
the  thanks  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  to  the  Committee  and 
Chamber  for  courteous  attentions,  and  for  facilities  afforded 
them  in  the  performance  of  their  duty  of  examining  the  river 
below  Wilmington,  and  discussing  the  subject  of  its  improve- 
ment, on  the  occasion  of  their  visit  on  the  24th  ult. 

Through  the  thoughtful  consideration  of  Mrs.  General 
Whiting,  your  Committee  and  the  Chamber  have  been  placed 
in  possession  of  a  commercial  statement  made  in  1815  by 
Joshua  Potts,  and  for  which  we  feel  greatly  indebted  ; — and 
also  to  Major  M.  P.  Taylor  for  a  similar  statement  made  in 
1843  by  the  late  Robert  W.  Brown.  These  statements,  while 
they  present  interesting  features  in  the  articles  of  production 
and  export,  and  the  manner  of  transacting  business  in  those 
days,  contain  items  of  importance  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Cape  Fear. 

From  a  comparison  of  these  two  statements,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  draught  of  water  upon  the  New  Inlet  Bar  was  iden- 
tically the  same — 11^  feet  at  high  tide — at  both  dates  of  1815 
and  1843,  while  the  water  upon  the  Main  Bar  had  deprecia- 
ted three  (3)  feet  in  the  twenty  -eight  years  intervening.  The 
Western  Bar,  now  in  use,  is  not  alluded  to  by  either.  The 
draught  of  water  upon  the  Flatts  below  Wilmington,  near 
Big  Island,  was  identically  the  same — 11^  feet — at  both 
dates,  proving  that  the  operations  for  improving  the  channel 
"by  the  State,  under  Fulton,  and  those  by  the  General  Gov- 
ernment, under  Capt.  Bache,  between  the  years  1820  and 
1830,  had  effected  no  improvement  to  navigation,  supposed 
to  be  owing  to  the  old  obstructions. 


79 

In  his  statement  in  1815,  Mr.  Potts  says  :  "  Unfortunately, 
a  couple  of  years  since  the  sea  encroached  on  the  shore,  and 
destroyed  the  Lighthouse  ;  and  within  a  few  vears  an  angle 
to  the  westward  has  been  formed  in  that  part  of  the  channel 
which  was  formerly  straight,  by  which  circumstance  the  navi- 
gation over  the  Main  Bar  has  become  more  difficult." 

We  here  have  the  date  of  the  destruction  of  the  old  Light- 
House  fixed  at  1813,  and  the  cause  of  it,  with  some  facts  for 
reflection  by  Engineers  upon  the  conflicting  currents  of  the 
ocean  and  river. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C,  February  12th,  1872. 
Col.  Wm.  L.  DeRosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Sir  : — The  regular  monthly  visit  of  the  Committee  on  Bar 
and  River  Improvements  to  the  works  near  New  Inlet,  was 
made  on  Saturday  last,  the  10th  instant. 

They  found  the  work  progressing  as  satisfactorily  as  the 
means  at  command  would  seem  to  justify.  Since  their  last 
visit  on  the  11th  of  January,  there  has  been  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  (250)  feet  of  the  breakwater  finished,  aggre- 
gating about  twelve  hundred  (1,200)  feet  of  the  breakwater 
ar  completely  finished  up  to  this  time  ;  some  unfinished  crib 
work  not  estimated.  Besides,  (as  we  learn  from  enquiry,) 
there  has  been  about  eight  hundred  (800)  feet  of  preparatory 
work  done  in.  filling  up  of  the  various  slues  (which  have  cut 
out)  with  stone,  and  leveling  up  to  low  water  mark  the  line 
of  the  permanent  breakwater,  which  will  greatly  facilitate 
future  operations. 

The  beach  in  front  continues  to  follow  the  work  as  rapidly 
as  completed  and  the  current  is  checked. 

The  succession  of  heavy  storms  upon  our  coast  of  late, 
accompanied  by  unusually  high  tides,  has  had  the  effect  of 
wearing  the  beach  to  some  extent,  particularly  at  the  outer 


so 

point  or  turn  of  it,  and  blowing  the  sand  from  exposed  and 
unprotected  situations,  while  those  parts  where  catch  sand 
fences  have  been  placed,  and  grass  planted,  little  or  no 
damage  has  been  sustained,  but  rather  benefited  by  collecting 
and  holding  the  drifting  sand. 

We  can  make  no  satisfactory  statement  in  regard  to  Zeke's 
Island,  which  was  entirely  covered  by  the  high  tides,  or  of 
the  Inlet  south  of  it,  as  we  have  no  means  of  determining 
whether  they  are  being  damaged  or  otherwise.  We  can  only 
see  that  an  immense  amount  of  sand  is  brought  inside 
through  the  Inlets,  and  deposited  in  the  river  and  bay,  and 
there  can  be  little  doubt  of  large  quantities  being  carried 
down  to  the  lower  harbor  and  its  outlet. 

Should  the  present  Congress  think  proper  to  make  the  re- 
quisite appropriation  for  a  more  vigorous  prosecution  of  work 
upon  the  breakwater,  and  at  the  same  time  upon  the  several 
combinations  which  f  eem  to  be  necessary  for  effecting  good 
results  from  the  work,  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  prove,  in  the 
end,  the  surest  economy,  and  we  shall  much  sooner  be  ena- 
bled to  reap  the  rich  benefits  inevitably  flowing  from  it. 

Your  Committee  acknowledge  its  inability  to  perceive  the 
wisdom  or  economy  of  frittering  away  large  sums  of  money 
in  prosecuting  complicated  works  so  sluggishly  as  to  admit 
of  rapid  damage  to  weak  points  of  the  combination,  equal, 
in  some  instances,  to  the  amount  of  work  accomplished, 
which  might  be  avoided,  and  the  work  greatly  economised, 
by  the  more  judicious  course  of  prosecuting  it  with  energy, 
and  a  proper  forecast  in  suppressing  injurious  effects  upon 
weak  points  at  the  same  time,  or  in  advance  of  the  main 
work.  Hence  the  necessity  of  urging  upon  Congress  the 
importance,  the  wisdom,  the  real  economy,  of  placing  at  the 
command  of  the  Engineer  in  charge  a  sufficient  amount  to 
conduct  the  work,  as  circumstances  may  arise  to  require  it, 
and  as  his  own  judgment  may  dictate.  No  apprehensions 
need  be  entertained  that  the  money  will  be  squandered,  his 
judicious  and  successful  management  thus  far  is  ample  assu- 
rance that  there  will  be  no  waste  of  time  or  money. 
Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


Rl 


WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  March  11th,  1872. 
Col.  Wm.  L.  DeRosset, 

President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  : 

Sib  : — The  monthly  visit  of  your  Committee  to  the  harbor 
improvements,  near  New  Inlet,  was  made  on  Thursday  last, 
the  7th  inst. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  during  the  past  month,  Cape 
Fear  river  has  been  visited  by  an  extraordinary  freshet,  the 
water  rising;  to  an  unusual  height,  so  much  so  that  during  its 
existence  the  water  at  the  works  was  not  reduced  at  low  tide 
more  than  eighteen  inches  below  the  line  of  high  water  mark. 
As  a  matter  of  course,  very  little  work  could  be  done  during 
this  condition  of  affairs.  Add  to  this  a  continuance  of  stormy 
weather  during  nearly  the  whole  month  ; — one  storm  of  great 
violence,  which  lasted  for  four  days  consecutively,  the  wind 
blowing  all  the  while  from  one  direction,  was  well  calculated 
to  result  in  damaging  effects.  Strange  as  it  may  appear, 
however,  we  are  pleased  to  say  that  no  damage  whatever  was 
done  to  any  part  of  the  work,  either  of  the  breakwater,  the 
brush  fences,  or  the  grass  which  had  been  planted.  Every- 
thing is  intact,  as  though  no  storm  or  high  tide  had  occurred, 
while  there  are  indications  of  considerable  damage  to  the 
exposed  and  unprotected  parts  of  the  beach. 

The  simple  statement  of  these  facts  we  feel  to  be  the 
strongest  commentary  at  our  command  upon  the  utility  and 
stability  of  the  works  now  progi'essing. 

Work  upon  the  break-water  is  progressing  satisfactorily 
under  the  circumstances,  and  considering  the  small  amount 
of  means  allowed  to  progress  with. 

Quite  an  amount  of  foundation  work  has  been  done, 
although  only  about  thirty  or  forty  feet  have  been  completed 
by  the  finishing  superstructure.  The  beach  in  front  continues 
to  follow  up  the  work,  and  the  flats  of  the  bay  inside  of  the 
work  is  rapidly  filling,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  get  a  small 
boat  to  the  beach  from  the  river,  except  at  high  tide. 

We  here  desire  to  call  attention  to  an  apparent  change 
going  on  in  the  current  of  the  main  New  Inlet,  which  now 
seems  to  take  a  southeastwardly  direction  from  the  inner 


82 

shore  of  Federal  Point,  diagonally  across  the  inlet,  outside 
of  the  outer  point  of  Zeke's  Island  shore,  moving  in  a  some- 
what parallel  line  to  Smith  Island  beach,  throwing  up  in  its 
passage  a  reef  or  line  of  shoal  from  the  outer  point  of  beach 
to  Zeke's  Island. 

How  this  change  of  current  (if  correct)  will  affect  the 
present  plan  of  operations  we  are  unable  to  say,  and  if  we 
were,  it  would  be  exceeding  our  province  to  speak.  If 
prejudicial,  the  Engineer  in  charge  will  very  soon  discover  it, 
if  he  has  not  already  done  so. 

There  is  still  another  matter  to  which  we  deem  it  proper 
to  call  the  attention  of  the  Chamber.  It  appears  from  the 
chart  of  a  survey  made  last  summer  by  Capt.  Junken,  of  the 
U.  S.  Coast  Survey,  and  under  its  direction,  that  there  then 
existed  upon  the  Rip  across  the  Western  channel  of  the  main 
outlet  of  the  harbor,  near  Fort  Caswell,  nine  and  a  half  (9|) 
feet  draught  of  water  at  low  tide,  the  benefits  of  which,  as 
yet,  have  not  been  made  available.  This  passage  appears 
narrow  and  not  exactly  straight,  and  can  only  be  rendered 
available  by  the  addition  of  two  or  three  buoys  judiciously 
placed. 

And  again,  we  are  informed  (unofficially  of  course)  that  the 
volume  of  water  now  passing  the  main  outlet,  of  the  harbor, 
being  largely  increased  by  the  construction  of  the  breakwa- 
ter near  New  Inlet,  and  taking  the  general  direction  of  the 
Eastern  or  old  main  ship  channel  on  the  Bald  Head  side  of 
the  outlet,  is  perceptibly  wearing  a  channel  through  the  outer 
balk-head  on  Keeper  Shoals,  and  that  ten  (10)  feet  draught 
can  now  be  obtained  across  it  at  low  tide.  If  these  reports 
should  prove  true,  (and  we  suppose  the  facts  will  soon  be 
developed  by  the  officers  of  the  Coast  Survey  now  at  work 
upon  this  outlet,)  we  can  see  no  good  reason  why  our  com- 
merce should  not  have  the  benefit  of  any  improvement  in  the 
navigation,  and  as  rapidly  as  such  improvement  is  made,  by 
having  the  channels  properly  marked  by  buoys. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  for  your  considera- 
tion. 

(Signed)  H.  NUTT,  Chairman. 


83 
HARBOR  IMPROVEMENTS. 


In  company  with  Henry  Nutt,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  we  visited  on 
Monday  last  the  works  for  the  improvement  of  our  harbor. 
As  our  readers  know,  the  object  of  these  works  is,  by  dimin- 
ishing the  water  at  New  Inlet,  to  increase  that  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  The  first  step  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work 
was  to  connect  Zeke's  Island  with  the  northern  end  of  Smith's 
Island  beach.  The  gap  between  the  two  points  was  about 
forty-five  hundred  feet  in  width.  Twelve  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  feet  of  this  gap  have  been  crossed  by  means  of  sub- 
stantial cribs,  filled  with  stones  and  rocks,  and  covered  with 
heavy  planking.  In  addition  to  this,  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  has  been  cribbed  and  is  ready  for 
planking,  and  rocks  have  been  sunk,  and  are  now  ready  for 
cribbing,  including  the  remains  of  Captain  Woodbury's 
work,  for  a  distance  of  about  four  hundred  feet ; — all  of  this 
will  be  completed  by  1st  May.  The  depth  of  water  between 
the  end  of  Woodbury's  work  and  Zeke's  Island  is  only  about 
seven  feet  at  high  water,  and  offers  no  difficult}*  to  be  over- 
come. The  great  work  of  connecting  Zeke's  Island  with 
Smith's  Island  beach  has  already  been  accomplished.  A 
channel  of  six  hundred  feet  wide,  and  for  five  hundred  feet 
of  this  width  between  thirty-five  and  forty  feet  deep,  has  been 
closed  up  in  such  a  manner  as  to  resist  the  violence  of  the 
most  terrific  storms. 

The  beach  from  Smith's  Island  has  followed  the  work,  and 
will  doubtless  -continue  to  do  so  until  the  connection  with 
Zeke's  Island  is  established,  increasing  in  width  and  height. 

In  order  to  complete  the  work,  another  appropriation  from 
Congress  is  absolutely  necessary.  If  the  amount  asked  for, 
$150,000,  be  granted,  the  work  will  be  carried  across  Zeke's 
Island  during  the  next  fiscal  year. 

Smith's  Island  beach,  the  long  narrow  strip  of  land  between 
the  Ocean  and  Buzzard's  Bay,  is  being  perceptibly  strength- 


84 

ened,  by  means  of  brush  fences  and  the  "  Carolina  Beach 
Grass."' 

The  brush  fences  are  nothing  more  nor  less  than  parallel 
lines  of  rail  fences  filled  in  with  brush.  The  sand  has  accu- 
mulated along'these  fences  to  such  a  height  that  the  "riders'* 
only  are  now  visible. 

The  grass  was  set  out  in  parallel  rows  last  Summer  and 
Fall,  and  during  the  Winter  just  passed,  and  in  that  short 
time  even  has  plainly  developed  its  capacity  for  holding  the 
sand. 

No  one  who  stood  on  Monday  upon  the  work,  and  remem- 
bered the  surging  volume  of  water  that  only  a  few  months 
before  rushed  beneath  the  very  spot  on  which  he  was  then 
standing,  can  doubt  the  pi  acticability  or  success  of  the  work. 
Nor  can  there  be  any  doubt  of  the  beneficial  effect  upon  the 
navigation  of  our  noble  river. 

Upon  the  success  of  the  efforts  to  improve  our  river  and 
harbor  depend,  in  our  opinion,  in  a  great  degree,  the  future 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  city  of  Wilmington. 

The  business  of  transportation  of  both  freights  and  passen- 
gers has  been  of  recent  years  reduced  to  a  system  adapted 
to  the  wants,  necessities,  and  geographical  conformation  of 
the  country  as  a  whole.  There  are  a  comparatively  few  great 
main  lines  with  innumerable  side  lines  or  feeders. 

The  termini  of  all  main  lines  running  East  and  West  are 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans.  The  necessities  of  the 
country  demand  at  least  two  of  these  main  interoceanic  lines. 
Why  should  not  Wilmington  be  one  of  the  Atlantic  termini  ? 

But  we  are  unwilling  to  give  expression  to  the  bright  hopes 
of  the  future  we  anticipate  for  our  goodly  old  town.  But 
whether  that  success  be  attained  in  full,  or  scant  measure, 
the  name  of  Henry  Nutt  will,  and  ought  to  be,  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  by  all  our  people  to  the  last  generation,  as 
the  earnest,  persistent,  and  enthusiastic  friend  of  this  great 
work. — Journal  Editorial,  March  20th,  1872. 


■•uTTider 

Gaylord  Bros. 

Maters 

Syracuse,  N  Y 

W.  JAN  21,  1908 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00030753140 

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